Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 11
Discrimination of the Qualities of Poetry (Kāvya-guṇa-viveka) — Closing Verse/Colophon Transition
असामयिकता नेयामेताञ्च मुनयो जगुः ग्राम्यता तु जघन्यार्थप्रतिपातिः खलीकृता
asāmayikatā neyāmetāñca munayo jaguḥ grāmyatā tu jaghanyārthapratipātiḥ khalīkṛtā
Die Weisen haben diese als Fehler bezeichnet: Unzeitgemäßheit im Ausdruck (asāmayikatā) ist zu meiden; und „Vulgarität“ ist Rede, die niedrige Bedeutungen vermittelt und die Sprache grob und bäurisch macht.
Lord Agni (teaching poetic theory in the Agni Purana, in dialogue tradition to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Editing and evaluating poetry/prose by avoiding stylistic faults like anachronism and vulgar diction; training students in refined expression (aucitya and śiṣṭa-vāk).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Kāvya-doṣa: Asāmayikatā and Grāmyatā","lookup_keywords":["asāmayikatā","grāmyatā","kāvya-doṣa","aucitya","jaghanārtha"],"quick_summary":"Two faults are flagged: untimely/inappropriate expression (asāmayikatā) and vulgar/coarse speech (grāmyatā) that suggests base meanings. Practical takeaway: maintain aucitya (contextual propriety) and śuddha-śabda (refined diction)."}
Concept: Aucitya (contextual fitness) as a governing norm of expression; ethical-aesthetic discipline of speech.
Application: Use audience, genre, time, and setting as filters; remove slang/obscenity and anachronistic idiom during revision.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya, Dosha–Guna: faults and merits of literary style)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned assembly of sages instructs a poet-scribe, pointing out two faults in a manuscript: untimely phrasing and coarse/vulgar wording, emphasizing refined speech.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, rishis seated in a sabhā with palm-leaf manuscript, one sage gesturing to reject coarse words, serene scholarly atmosphere, traditional ornaments and halos, flat decorative background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on the sages’ ornaments and manuscript edges, central guru-sage teaching a young poet, symbolic scroll showing crossed-out vulgar words, rich reds and greens, temple-pillared backdrop.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate lines and soft shading, instructional scene of a teacher correcting a student’s poem, annotated manuscript with marginal marks for aucitya and grāmyatā, calm classroom setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly library scene with scholars, fine textiles and carpets, one scholar indicating an anachronistic phrase and a coarse term on a folio, precise facial expressions, intricate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नेयामेताञ्च = नेया + एतान् + च; जघन्यार्थप्रतिपातिः = जघन्य + अर्थ + प्रतिपातिः (समास); खलीकृता = खली + कृता (कृदन्त).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 346 (Sāhitya-śāstra: doṣa-guṇa sections)
FAQs
It teaches Sahitya-śāstra criteria for rejecting poetic faults—specifically asāmayikatā (contextually untimely expression) and grāmyatā (coarse, base-meaning vulgarity).
Alongside ritual, dharma, and polity, the Agni Purana also systematizes literary theory; this verse is part of its formal definitions of kavya-doṣas used in Sanskrit criticism.
By discouraging crude and context-inappropriate speech, it supports śuddhi (refinement/purity) in language—an ethical discipline aligned with sattvic conduct and respectful communication.