Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 39
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
अर्धाभ्यामर्धपादैश् च कुर्याद्विन्यासमेतयोः जानुबन्धमिति क , ख च न्यस्तानामिह वर्णानामधोधः क्रमभागिनां
ardhābhyāmardhapādaiś ca kuryādvinyāsametayoḥ jānubandhamiti ka , kha ca nyastānāmiha varṇānāmadhodhaḥ kramabhāgināṃ
Au moyen de deux moitiés—et aussi par des demi-lignes—on doit effectuer le vinyāsa (la mise en place) de ces deux schémas. Ici, les consonnes « ka » et « kha » sont dites « jānubandha » (l’articulation du genou) ; et, pour les lettres posées, celles qui suivent l’ordre doivent être placées successivement plus bas (en ordre descendant).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Executing the vinyāsa (placement) algorithm for bandha verses using half-verses/half-lines, with designated pivot letters (ka, kha) as joints and a descending sequence placement rule.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vinyāsa Method with Jānubandha (ka-kha) and Descending Sequence Placement","lookup_keywords":["vinyāsa","jānubandha","ka kha","varṇa-krama","adhodhaḥ"],"quick_summary":"Arrange the bandha using halves and half-pādas; treat ‘ka’ and ‘kha’ as the knee-joint pivots. Place subsequent letters according to sequence, stepping progressively downward (descending order) in the layout."}
Alamkara Type: Citra (Bandha-kāvya)
Concept: Rule-governed construction: complex aesthetic forms arise from simple operations (pivot + ordered descent).
Application: Use ka/kha as fixed anchors while drafting; verify that each placed akṣara follows the intended krama and vertical descent to maintain bandha integrity.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas/Varna-vinyasa and prosodic-phonetic arrangement)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic grid where ‘ka’ and ‘kha’ are marked as knee-joints; arrows show letters being placed in descending steps across half-verses and half-pādas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized diagram on palm-leaf with highlighted ‘ka’ and ‘kha’ nodes, arrows descending through a varṇa sequence, guru demonstrating to students in a traditional hall.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted ‘ka’ and ‘kha’ as central pivots on a decorative grid, descending akṣaras arranged with ornate borders, manuscript tools at the bottom.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, crisp instructional chart: labeled jānubandha points (ka, kha), stepwise downward placement arrows, neat calligraphy and measured spacing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar’s desk with a ruled grid page; ka/kha emphasized in red ink, descending sequence in black, fine marginal notes and precise geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्धाभ्यामर्धपादैश् = अर्धाभ्याम् अर्ध-पादैः; कुर्याद्विन्यासम् = कुर्यात् विन्यासम्; विन्यासमेतयोः = विन्यासम् एतयोः; जानुबन्धमिति = जानु-बन्धम् इति; न्यस्तानामिह = न्यस्तानाम् इह; वर्णानामधोधः = वर्णानाम् अधोधः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.40 (continuation: movement to fourth quarter and retrograde ascent)
FAQs
It teaches a technical rule of vinyāsa—how to place/arrange letters and segments (by halves or half-lines), identifying a ‘joint’ point (jānubandha) at ka–kha and prescribing a descending sequential placement.
Beyond mythology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves specialist śāstra material—here, formal rules of phonetic/prosodic arrangement and technical nomenclature—showing its coverage of linguistic sciences alongside dharma, worship, and other disciplines.
By standardizing correct textual/phonetic arrangement, it supports accurate preservation and recitation of śāstric material—traditionally regarded as essential for maintaining the integrity and merit (puṇya) of learned transmission.