Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 18
काव्यगुणविवेकः
Examination of the Qualities of Poetry
शब्दार्थवुपकुर्वाणो नाम्नोभयगुणः स्मृतः तस्य प्रसादः सौभाग्यं यथासङ्ख्यं प्रशस्तता
śabdārthavupakurvāṇo nāmnobhayaguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ tasya prasādaḥ saubhāgyaṃ yathāsaṅkhyaṃ praśastatā
जो नाम शब्द-रूप और अर्थ—दोनों में उपकारक हो, वह नाम द्विगुण-सम्पन्न माना गया है। उसका ‘प्रसाद’ सौभाग्य (लाभ) देता है और क्रमशः प्रशस्तता (प्रशंसा-योग्यता) प्राप्त होती है।
Lord Agni (teaching Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Selecting names/titles (for characters, works, persons, places) that are excellent both phonetically and semantically to enhance reception, memorability, and auspicious public perception.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Nāma-guṇa (Twofold Excellence of a Name): Sound & Meaning","lookup_keywords":["nāma","śabda-artha","ubhayaguṇa","prasāda","saubhāgya"],"quick_summary":"A good name serves both in pleasing sound-form and apt meaning. Such naming yields clarity/pleasantness and is praised as bringing auspiciousness and commendability in due order."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (implied relevance via pleasing sound)
Concept: Language ethics/aesthetics: the excellence of naming lies in harmony of sound and sense, producing social and aesthetic auspiciousness.
Application: In composing kavya or naming rituals/works: test a name for phonetic sweetness (easy articulation, euphony) and semantic fitness (non-contradictory, elevating meaning).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Nama-vidya / Lexicography and semantics)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A poet chooses a character’s name: two scales balance 'śabda' (sound) and 'artha' (meaning); the chosen name shines, and a scroll shows 'prasāda', 'saubhāgya', 'praśastatā' in sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, poet with stylus and palm-leaf, symbolic balance scale with labels śabda/artha, glowing script, earthy tones and decorative floral borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf on the written name, ornate scale motif, rich jewel colors, auspicious motifs (lotus, conch) framing the concept of saubhāgya.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic illustration: checklist-like panel for śabda-guṇa and artha-guṇa, poet and student, fine lines and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with calligrapher and poet, elegant cartouche containing the chosen name, subtle symbolism of sound/meaning harmony."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Raga Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शब्दार्थवुपकुर्वाणो = शब्दार्थम् + उपकुर्वाणः; नाम्नोभयगुणः = नाम्नः + उभयगुणः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 345.19-20 (prasāda, saubhāgya, udāratva as guṇas)
FAQs
It teaches nāma-vidyā in a technical sense: an ideal name should be strong in both śabda (phonetic/lexical form) and artha (meaning), and such well-formed naming is regarded as auspicious and commendable.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves Sahitya- and vyākaraṇa-adjacent principles—here, a compact rule about linguistic quality and the cultural theory of auspicious naming.
Choosing or using a name that is pleasing in form and meaningful in sense is portrayed as generating saubhāgya (auspicious success) and social-spiritual praśastatā (praiseworthiness), aligning speech with dharmic order.