Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 34
Chapter 336 — काव्यादिलक्षणम्
Definitions of Poetry and Related Arts
चतुर्वर्गफलं विश्वग्व्याख्यातं नायकाख्यया समानवृत्तिनिर्व्यूटः कौशिकीवृत्तिकोमलः
caturvargaphalaṃ viśvagvyākhyātaṃ nāyakākhyayā samānavṛttinirvyūṭaḥ kauśikīvṛttikomalaḥ
આનું ફળ ચતુર્વર્ગસિદ્ધિ છે; ‘નાયક’ નામથી તેને સર્વત્ર લાગુ પડે તેમ વ્યાખ્યાયિત કર્યું છે. તે સમવૃત્તમાં રચાયેલું છે અને કૌશિકી વૃત્તિ મુજબ કોમળ સ્વભાવ ધરાવે છે.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"Identification and deployment of a specific sama-vrtta and stylistic register (Kauśikī vṛtti) for composing/performing nāyaka-centered poetry that aims at dharma-artha-kāma-mokṣa framing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Nāyaka Designation; Sama-vṛtta Construction; Kauśikī Vṛtti (Komala) Character","lookup_keywords":["nayaka","sama-vrtta","kaushiki-vritti","komala","chaturvarga-phala"],"quick_summary":"The passage characterizes a nāyaka-oriented poetic form as universally applicable, built in an isometric metre, and marked by the gentle Kauśikī style; it is framed as yielding the four aims of life."}
Concept: Chaturvarga orientation: literature/heroic-narrative is legitimized as serving the four puruṣārthas.
Application: Compose narratives with ethical and life-aim framing; choose gentle Kauśikī style and regular metre when aiming for refined, broadly acceptable presentation.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas & Vritta: Sanskrit prosody and metrical analysis)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dramaturge-poet demonstrates a ‘sama-vṛtta’ pattern on a board while dancers embody the soft Kauśikī style around a central nāyaka figure; four symbols of puruṣārthas appear as emblems.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized stage with nāyaka at center, dancers in graceful poses (Kauśikī), a palm-leaf chart showing equal metre beats, four emblems (dharma wheel, coin, flower, lamp) in corners, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, nāyaka seated with attendants, dancers in komala postures, gold-leaf highlighting rhythmic grid of sama-vṛtta, ornate arch framing four puruṣārtha symbols","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: metre grid (equal mātrā/akṣara blocks) beside a gentle dance vignette, labeled ‘Kauśikī’, soft colors, precise detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a mehfil: poet explains metre to patrons, a dancer demonstrates graceful style, marginal notes as rhythmic ticks, refined architecture and patterned carpet"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुर्वर्गफलं = चतुर्-वर्ग-फलम्; विश्वग्व्याख्यातं = विश्वक् + व्याख्यातम्; नायकाख्यया = नायक-आख्यया; समानवृत्तिनिर्व्यूटः = समान-वृत्ति-निर्व्यूटः; कौशिकीवृत्तिकोमलः = कौशिकी-वृत्ति-कोमलः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 336 (sections on chandas/vṛtta and stylistic vṛttis)
FAQs
It imparts chandas-vidyā (prosodic science): identifying a metre called “Nāyaka,” classifying it as a sama-vṛtta, and describing its aesthetic effect as aligned with the gentle Kauśikī vṛtti.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana catalogs technical arts like Sanskrit prosody and poetics; this verse exemplifies its systematic treatment of metres (vṛtta), their classifications, and their stated literary/spiritual “phala.”
By attributing “caturvarga-phala” to the proper use/recitation of this metre, the text links refined literary practice (correct metre and style) with merit and holistic life-goals—dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa.