Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 16
Discrimination of the Qualities of Poetry (Kāvya-guṇa-viveka) — Closing Verse/Colophon Transition
विगतो वा विरुद्धो वा सन्धिः स भवति द्विधा सन्धेर्विरुद्धता कष्टपादादर्थान्तरागमात्
vigato vā viruddho vā sandhiḥ sa bhavati dvidhā sandherviruddhatā kaṣṭapādādarthāntarāgamāt
Sandhi (euphonische Fügung) hat zwei fehlerhafte Arten: (1) vigata—wenn das gebotene Sandhi fehlt oder ausgelassen wird, und (2) viruddha—wenn das Sandhi der Regel oder der Angemessenheit widerspricht. Die „Widersprüchlichkeit“ des Sandhi entsteht durch ein ungeschickt erzwungenes pāda (metrisches Viertel/Formulierung) oder durch das Eindringen eines unbeabsichtigten, anderen Sinnes.
Lord Agni (teaching the principles of sahitya/poetics within the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Editing and composing Sanskrit verse/prose by diagnosing two sandhi-doṣas—missing junction (vigata) and improper/contrary junction (viruddha)—and tracing their causes to metrical forcing or semantic intrusion.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Sandhi-doṣa: Vigata and Viruddha","lookup_keywords":["sandhi-doṣa","vigata-sandhi","viruddha-sandhi","kaṣṭa-pāda","arthāntarāgama"],"quick_summary":"Faulty sandhi is classified as either absent (vigata) or contrary (viruddha). Viruddhatā typically results from forcing a metrical quarter or from an unintended shift/intrusion of meaning."}
Alamkara Type: Doṣa (Sandhi-doṣa)
Concept: Śabda-śuddhi through identifying doṣas and their causal conditions (metrical pressure, semantic drift).
Application: Use as a checklist in kāvya revision: verify sandhi correctness; if violated, check whether meter forced the wording or whether meaning has inadvertently shifted.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Chandas/Nirukti—technical poetics and grammatical-linguistic doctrine)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traditional Sanskrit paṇḍita-teacher points to a palm-leaf manuscript showing correct and incorrect sandhi splits; beside it, a metrical pāda is marked as ‘kaṣṭa’ and a gloss shows meaning shifting due to wrong junction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, scholar in white dhoti teaching students, palm-leaf manuscript with highlighted sandhi junctions, warm earthy pigments, flat iconic composition, subtle Sanskrit letters as decorative bands.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated guru with manuscript and stylus, gold-leaf halo-like arch behind, two panels showing ‘vigata’ (gap) and ‘viruddha’ (wrong join) as symbolic letter-forms, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional diagram: two columns labeled vigata and viruddha, examples of joined letters, teacher gesturing with pointer, delicate linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly library scene with calligrapher and grammarian, manuscript open to sandhi examples, marginal notes indicating kaṣṭa-pāda and arthāntara, fine detail and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sandher viruddhatā: सन्धेः + विरुद्धता; arthāntarāgamāt: अर्थान्तर + आगमात् (āgama in abl.); kaṣṭapādād: कष्टपादात् (final -t → -d before vowel).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 346 (Sāhitya-śāstra section on doṣas/guṇas)
FAQs
It teaches a technical kavya/grammar point: two sandhi-doṣas—vigata (missing sandhi) and viruddha (improper/contradictory sandhi), and how bad metrical forcing or unintended meaning-shift causes the fault.
Beyond ritual and mythology, it preserves formal literary-scientific knowledge—rules for correct Sanskrit composition, metrical phrasing (pāda), and semantic precision—showing the text’s coverage of sahitya-shastra alongside other vidyās.
By promoting precise, non-distorting speech and textual integrity, it supports truthful transmission of dharma-teachings; careful language reduces misunderstanding in recitation, teaching, and sacred study (svādhyāya).