Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 35
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
प्रतिलोम्यानुलोम्यञ्च शब्देनार्थेन जायते अनेकधावृत्तवर्णविन्यासैः शिल्पकल्पना
pratilomyānulomyañca śabdenārthena jāyate anekadhāvṛttavarṇavinyāsaiḥ śilpakalpanā
Par prātilomya et anulomya—au niveau des mots comme au niveau du sens—naît la composition artistique ; elle se façonne par l’agencement des lettres de multiples manières et par des placements répétés selon des motifs.
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Designing advanced wordplay and patterned composition by manipulating forward/reverse order at both word and meaning levels; crafting varṇa-vinyāsa patterns for aesthetic and mnemonic impact.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śilpa-kalpanā via Anulomya–Prātilomya (Word/Meaning Permutation)","lookup_keywords":["anulomya","prātilomya","śabda-artha","varṇa-vinyāsa","śilpa-kalpanā"],"quick_summary":"Explains that artistic composition arises from forward and reverse ordering in both wording and meaning, achieved through repeated and varied letter-arrangements—guiding deliberate construction of patterned verses."}
Alamkara Type: Śabda-alaṅkāra (anuloma/pratiloma; varṇa-vinyāsa-based patterning)
Concept: Form and meaning can be jointly engineered; artistry is systematic recombination under constraints.
Application: Compose exercises: (1) anuloma verse with straightforward syntax, (2) prātiloma reversal preserving intelligibility, (3) paired verses where meaning also reverses (semantic mirroring), while maintaining euphony.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Alankara & Shabda-shakti / Poetics and Literary Theory)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Letters arranged like a woven lattice; a poet demonstrates how the same set of syllables can be read forward and backward, with parallel meaning-threads, showing ‘śilpa-kalpanā’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, decorative lattice of Sanskrit letters forming a symmetrical mandala-like grid, poet pointing to forward and reverse reading paths, bold outlines, earthy reds/ochres, temple-mural ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed letter-lattice on a central panel, poet-sage seated with manuscript, forward/reverse paths highlighted with gold and vermilion, rich ornamental frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram of a letter-grid with arrows for anuloma/prātiloma, side notes on word vs meaning reversal, delicate lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, calligrapher-poet presenting a patterned verse on a scroll, intricate geometric arrangement of letters, scholars examining forward/backward readings, refined detail and balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Raga Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रतिलोम्यानुलोम्यञ्च = प्रतिलोम्यम् + अनुलोम्यम् + च; शब्देनार्थेन = शब्देन + अर्थेन; अनेकधावृत्तवर्णविन्यासैः = अनेकधा + वृत्त + वर्ण + विन्यासैः (instrumental plural).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.34 (vikalpa: sthāna/svara/vyañjana; anuloma/pratiloma); Agni Purana 342 (broader śabda-śilpa and bandha discussions)
FAQs
It teaches a technical poetic method: creating literary artistry by arranging syllables/letters in patterned repetitions and by using forward (anuloma) and reverse (pratiloma) ordering at the levels of wording (śabda) and sense (artha).
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana also codifies literary science (sāhitya-śāstra), preserving compositional techniques—such as varṇa-vinyāsa and anuloma/pratiloma constructions—showing its coverage of arts and scholarship alongside religious topics.
By framing refined speech (śabda) and meaningful expression (artha) as disciplined craft, it supports the Purāṇic ideal that cultivated, truthful, and well-formed expression is a dharmic act that purifies the mind and aligns learning with sacred order.