Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 23
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
विद्यायां सप्त तत्त्वानि पादानामेकविंशतिं षड् वर्णान् सञ्चरं चैकं लोकानां पञ्चविंशतिं
vidyāyāṃ sapta tattvāni pādānāmekaviṃśatiṃ ṣaḍ varṇān sañcaraṃ caikaṃ lokānāṃ pañcaviṃśatiṃ
Dans cette science métrique (vidyā), il y a sept tattva (principes) ; vingt et une variétés de pieds (pāda) ; six classes syllabiques ; et une règle principale appelée « sañcāra » ; et elle expose encore vingt-cinq classifications des mondes.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Chandas/metrics pedagogy: enumerating core categories (tattva, pāda-bheda, varṇa-varga, sañcāra) for composing and scanning verses; also mapping cosmological lists used in scholastic framing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Chandas-vidyā saṅkhyā: 7 tattvas, 21 pāda-bhedas, 6 varṇa-vargas, 1 sañcāra, 25 loka-bhedas","lookup_keywords":["chandas","sapta-tattva","ekaviṃśati-pāda","ṣaḍ-varṇa","sañcāra"],"quick_summary":"A mnemonic enumeration for metrical science: seven fundamentals, twenty-one foot/quarter varieties, six syllabic/phonemic classes, a key rule called sañcāra, and a scholastic set of twenty-five world-classifications."}
Concept: Śāstra as ordered knowledge: learning through saṅkhyā (enumeration) and bheda (classification).
Application: Use the number-list as a memorization scaffold when studying chandas and related scholastic cosmological enumerations.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / prosody and metrics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher of prosody instructs students with a palm-leaf chart listing 7 tattvas, 21 pāda types, 6 varṇa classes, and a central ‘sañcāra’ rule, with a cosmology diagram indicating 25 lokas as an appended scholastic list.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style classroom in a temple maṭha, guru pointing to a stylized palm-leaf board with bold numerals 7/21/6/1/25, students seated cross-legged, decorative borders, earthy pigments, flat iconic faces.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, guru under ornate arch with gold foil, palm-leaf manuscript enlarged showing the enumerations, students with styluses, rich reds/greens, gold highlights on manuscript edges.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional diagram aesthetic: labeled boxes for 7 tattvas, 21 pādas, 6 varṇas, central sañcāra arrow-flow, and a side wheel of 25 lokas; delicate shading and precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly with manuscripts, one folio illustrated with numeric taxonomy and small cosmology map, fine details of writing tools, subdued palette, architectural interior."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pādānāmekaviṃśatiṃ → pādānām + eka-viṃśatim; caikaṃ → ca + ekam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 83 (Sāhitya-śāstra section on chandas)
FAQs
It summarizes a technical syllabus of chandas (Sanskrit prosody): key fundamentals (tattva), counts of metrical feet/quarters (pāda-bheda), syllabic/phonetic classes (varṇa), and a core operational rule termed sañcāra.
Rather than only theology, the Agni Purana catalogs structured knowledge-systems—here, a shastric outline of prosody with numbered categories—showing its compendium-style coverage of linguistic and literary sciences alongside cosmological classifications (lokas).
By systematizing chandas, the verse supports correct recitation and composition of sacred speech; accurate meter is traditionally linked with preserving mantra efficacy and maintaining the purity and discipline of scriptural transmission.