Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 44
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
चतुश्छदे भवेदष्टच्छदे वर्णत्रयं पुनः स्यात् षोडशच्छदे त्वेकान्तरञ्चेदेकमक्षरं
catuśchade bhavedaṣṭacchade varṇatrayaṃ punaḥ syāt ṣoḍaśacchade tvekāntarañcedekamakṣaraṃ
Dans un mètre à quatre pieds, il se règle comme à huit pieds ; et, dans la forme à huit pieds, il doit y avoir un groupe de trois syllabes. Mais dans la forme à seize pieds, si l’on dispose par alternance, chaque unité n’est qu’une seule syllabe.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purana instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"Metric regulation for composition/recitation: mapping between 4-, 8-, and 16-footed schemes and applying syllable grouping (tri-syllable units) or alternation (single-syllable units) for rhythmic control.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Foot-Count Transformations and Syllable-Grouping in Metre (4/8/16-chada)","lookup_keywords":["chandas","catuśchada","aṣṭachada","ṣoḍaśachada","varṇa-traya"],"quick_summary":"Explains how a four-footed pattern is treated as eight-footed, prescribes tri-syllable grouping in the eight-footed form, and states that in a sixteen-footed alternating arrangement each unit is a single syllable—guiding rhythmic structuring."}
Concept: Measure (mātrā/akṣara) and permutation (vikalpa) create multiple valid rhythmic realizations from a base pattern.
Application: For chanting or stage-recitation, adjust tempo and grouping according to the prescribed foot-count transformation to keep laya consistent across variants.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / Prosody and Metrics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A metrics board showing three rows: 4-footed mapped to 8-footed; 8-footed annotated with tri-syllable clusters; 16-footed shown with alternating single-syllable units, like a rhythmic grid.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: temple-school scene with a large rhythmic grid painted on a board, rows labeled 4/8/16, clusters marked in white, teacher clapping tala to demonstrate alternation, earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate framed chart of metrical feet with gold highlights on tri-syllable groups and alternating units, scholar with stylus, rich decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean didactic illustration—counting marks, brackets for varṇa-traya, alternating pattern for ṣoḍaśa, minimal but elegant color wash.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a poet and musician examining a metrical chart, small drum indicating rhythm, precise grid lines and annotations, refined border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Adi (Carnatic) / Bhupali (Hindustani)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुश्छदे = चतुः + छदे; भवेदष्टच्छदे = भवेत् + अष्टच्छदे; षोडशच्छदे त्वेकान्तरञ्चेदेकमक्षरं = षोडशच्छदे + तु + एकान्तरम् + चेत् + एकम् + अक्षरम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342 (prosody/metrics rules continuing)
FAQs
It teaches a prosodic (chandas) rule: how metres are structured by dividing into 4, 8, or 16 metrical units, specifying tri-syllabic grouping in the eight-unit pattern and single-syllable alternation in the sixteen-unit pattern.
Beyond mythology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves technical śāstric material such as Sanskrit poetics—here, precise metrical engineering—showing its wide coverage of literary science alongside dharma, worship, and other disciplines.
Correct metre supports accurate recitation and transmission of sacred and literary texts; disciplined, error-free chanting and composition are traditionally regarded as purifying and merit-bearing because they preserve śabda (sacred sound) in its proper form.