Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 4
Discrimination of the Qualities of Poetry (Kāvya-guṇa-viveka) — Closing Verse/Colophon Transition
असाधुत्वाप्रयुक्त्वे द्वावेव पदनिग्रहौ शब्दशास्त्रविरुद्धत्वमसाधुत्वं विदुर्बुधाः
asādhutvāprayuktve dvāveva padanigrahau śabdaśāstraviruddhatvamasādhutvaṃ vidurbudhāḥ
પદરূপને નકારવાના માત્ર બે આધાર—(૧) અસાધુત્વ (અશુદ્ધતા) અને (૨) અપ્રયુક્તત્વ (પ્રમાણિત પ્રયોગનો અભાવ). વિદ્વાનો ‘અસાધુત્વ’ તેને કહે છે જે શબ્દશાસ્ત્ર/વ્યાકરણના વિરુદ્ધ હોય.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing sage Vasiṣṭha on śabda-śāstra principles
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Establishing criteria for accepting/rejecting word-forms in composition and criticism: grammatical correctness and attested usage; improves clarity and classical conformity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Padanigraha: asādhutva and aprayuktva","lookup_keywords":["asadhutva","aprayuktva","pada-nigraha","shabda-shastra","vyakarana"],"quick_summary":"A word-form is rejected for only two reasons: it violates grammatical science (asādhutva) or it lacks accepted attestation/usage (aprayuktva). This provides a practical checklist for linguistic correctness in kāvya."}
Concept: Linguistic validity rests on two pramāṇas in practice: rule (śāstra) and living/received usage (prayoga).
Application: In editing or composing, verify (1) conformity to grammatical rules and (2) attestation in reputable literature; if either fails, mark the word as defective.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vyakarana / Shabda-shastra: linguistic correctness and usage)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grammarian reviews a poem, striking out a faulty word for being ungrammatical and marking another as unattested, with reference books and manuscripts open.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scholar with stylus correcting palm-leaf manuscript, two highlighted rejected words, stacks of śāstra texts, students observing, strong outlines and traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated grammarian with gold halo, manuscript on low desk, red correction marks, ornate library setting, gold embossing on book edges.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional scene with two labels: asādhutva (vyākaraṇa-viruddha) and aprayuktva (no prayoga), neat composition, soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a scribe-critic in a study, marginal annotations, inkpot and reed pen, assistants bringing reference manuscripts, fine architectural details."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: असाधुत्वाप्रयुक्त्वे→असाधुत्व-अप्रयुक्त्वे; शब्दशास्त्रविरुद्धत्वमसाधुत्वं→शब्द-शास्त्र-विरुद्धत्वम् असाधुत्वम्; विदुर्बुधाः→विदुः बुधाः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 346.5 (subtypes/related faults like chāndasa, avispasṭa, kaṣṭa); Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra discussions on śabda-doṣa
FAQs
It imparts śabda-śāstra (grammar/language science): a technical rule that word-forms are rejected only on two bases—being grammatically incorrect (asādhutva) or lacking accepted/attested usage (aprayuktva).
Beyond ritual and mythology, it preserves a compact linguistic doctrine from Vyākaraṇa/śāstra traditions, showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of technical disciplines like grammar and literary theory alongside dharma and worship.
Correct speech supports accurate mantra recitation and śāstric study; avoiding ungrammatical or non-standard forms is treated as preserving the purity of sacred language, reducing error in recitation and learning.