Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 19
Chapter 366 — सामान्यनामलिङ्गानि
Common Noun-Forms and Their Grammatical Genders
आविद्धं कुटिलं भुग्नं वेल्लितं वक्रमित्यपि पाठो ऽयं पुररुक्तिदोषेण दुष्टः चञ्चलं तरलञ्चैव कठोरं जठरं दृढं
āviddhaṃ kuṭilaṃ bhugnaṃ vellitaṃ vakramityapi pāṭho 'yaṃ puraruktidoṣeṇa duṣṭaḥ cañcalaṃ taralañcaiva kaṭhoraṃ jaṭharaṃ dṛḍhaṃ
«Percé/secoué», «tortueux», «plié», «ondoyant» et «courbe»—ce mode de récitation aussi est vicié, altéré par le défaut de répétition (punaḥ-ukti). De même, une diction fautive est instable, trop fluide, rude, lourde de la gorge, et rigide.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"Guidance for correct recitation/delivery by identifying defective vocal/intonational modes and a textual fault (punaḥ-ukti) that corrupts a reading.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Faulty recitation modes and the defect of repetition (punaḥ-ukti)","lookup_keywords":["punaḥ-ukti","patha-dosha","recitation faults","kutila","vellita"],"quick_summary":"The verse catalogs undesirable delivery styles—crooked, bent, wavering, harsh, overly fluid, rigid, etc.—and notes that a reading can be spoiled by the fault of repetition (punaḥ-ukti). It serves as a checklist for refining oral performance and textual transmission."}
Alamkara Type: Doshaviveka (identification of poetic/recitational faults)
Concept: Śabda-śuddhi (purity/precision of utterance) and transmission integrity; faults arise from instability, excess, or harshness in delivery and from textual repetition.
Application: Train reciters/actors to maintain steadiness, clarity, and appropriate fluidity; in editing, flag and remove punaḥ-ukti where it corrupts sense or elegance.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas/Prosody and Textual Criticism)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher of recitation correcting students: one student recites with wavering, another too harsh, another too fast/rigid; the teacher gestures to steady rhythm and clear articulation; palm-leaf manuscript nearby indicating textual correction of repetition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, gurukula interior with palm-leaf manuscripts, acharya seated, students in varied postures showing crooked/wavy recitation through expressive hand and head movements, warm ochres and greens, stylized sound-scroll motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central acharya with gold halo-like arch, students in rows, one depicted with exaggerated bent posture (kutila) and another with stiff posture (dṛḍha), gold-leaf accents on manuscripts and borders, didactic scene","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional classroom tableau, fine lines, subtle expressions showing ‘chanchala’ (unsteady) and ‘kathora’ (harsh), manuscript with marked repetition, calm corrective mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed madrasa-like setting adapted to Sanskrit pathashala, teacher pointing to manuscript, students mid-recitation with varied gestures, delicate rendering of palm leaves and ink marks indicating repetition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वक्रमित्यपि = वक्रम् + इति + अपि; पाठोऽयम् = पाठः + अयम्; तरलञ्चैव = तरलम् + च + एव; पुररुक्तिदोषेण = पुरा-उक्ति-दोषेण (तत्पुरुष).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra sections on chandas, patha, and doshas; Agni Purana Natya-related guidance on voice and delivery (where present)
FAQs
It lists defective modes of pāṭha (recitation/reading)—crooked, bent, wavering, harsh, overly fluid, rigid, etc.—and flags repetition (punaḥ-ukti) as a specific textual/poetic fault to be avoided for correct chanting and transmission.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves technical norms of Sanskrit literary science—prosody, recitation quality, and doṣa-identification—functioning like a handbook for correct textual performance and editorial discernment.
Correct, non-defective recitation safeguards mantra/śāstra transmission and is treated as a form of purity in speech (vāk-śuddhi); avoiding doṣas prevents dilution of merit and supports disciplined, sattvic worship and study.