Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 17
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
चतुर्व्यवसितञ्चैव मालायमकमेव च दशधा यमकं श्रेष्ठं तद्भेदा बहवो ऽपरे
caturvyavasitañcaiva mālāyamakameva ca daśadhā yamakaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ tadbhedā bahavo 'pare
Ferner gibt es «Caturvyavasita» und «Mālā-yamaka»; am besten versteht man yamaka als zehnfach gegliedert, und darüber hinaus besitzt es viele weitere Unterarten.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Use the tenfold scheme of yamaka as a standard syllabus map; identify caturvyavasita and mālā-yamaka in texts and craft them in composition exercises.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Yamaka as Tenfold (Daśadhā) with Caturvyavasita and Mālā-yamaka","lookup_keywords":["daśadhā yamaka","caturvyavasita","mālā-yamaka","yamaka bheda","anuprāsa"],"quick_summary":"Affirms a canonical tenfold understanding of yamaka while acknowledging many further subtypes. Serves as a framework for organizing examples and pedagogy."}
Alamkara Type: Yamaka (with Caturvyavasita, Mālā-yamaka)
Concept: Śāstra-saṅgraha (compressing a large field into a teachable canon)
Application: When teaching or writing commentary, present the tenfold core first, then append regional/authorial subtypes as extensions.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya–Alankara: Yamaka/Anuprasa classifications)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic 'garland' (mālā) of repeated syllables encircles a central chart labeled 'Daśadhā Yamaka', with two highlighted nodes: caturvyavasita and mālā-yamaka, as a teaching diagram.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized diagrammatic garland motif around a central palm-leaf chart reading 'daśadhā yamaka', two emphasized labels 'caturvyavasita' and 'mālā-yamaka', guru pointing with a stylus, flat decorative geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate circular mālā motif with gold leaf, central panel 'daśadhā yamaka', side cartouches for 'caturvyavasita' and 'mālā-yamaka', rich jewel tones, temple-like frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional chart aesthetic, garland-like repetition pattern drawn as linked beads, labels in Devanagari, teacher and students in a classroom setting, soft colors and fine outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, album page with calligraphic panels: 'daśadhā yamaka', marginal illustrations of a garland and fourfold arrangement, scholar annotating with reed pen, delicate borders and floral motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Vachaspati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: -ñcaiva = -m ca eva; bahavo 'pare = bahavaḥ apare (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.16; Agni Purana 342.18; Agni Purana 342.20
FAQs
It imparts kavya-shastra (poetics) knowledge: yamaka (a sound-based ornament) is presented as having a principal tenfold classification, including types like caturvyavasita and mālā-yamaka.
By cataloging technical categories from Sanskrit literary theory (alankara-shastra), it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium that includes aesthetics and grammar-like disciplines alongside ritual and dharma topics.
While not a ritual injunction, it supports dharmic cultivation through refined speech and composition—skills traditionally valued for transmitting scripture, praise (stotra), and ethical instruction with clarity and aesthetic force.