Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 33
Discrimination of the Qualities of Poetry (Kāvya-guṇa-viveka) — Closing Verse/Colophon Transition
कियन्त एव वा येन सामान्यस्तेन सद्विधा छेदसिद्धन्ततो ऽन्यः स्यात् केषाञ्चिद्भ्रान्तितो यथा
kiyanta eva vā yena sāmānyastena sadvidhā chedasiddhantato 'nyaḥ syāt keṣāñcidbhrāntito yathā
अथवा, ‘सामान्य’ उतना ही माना जाता है जितने से उसका सिद्ध होना संभव हो; अन्यथा ‘छेद-सिद्धान्त’ (विश्लेषणात्मक विभाजन) के अनुसार किसी-किसी को भ्रान्ति की तरह भिन्न निष्कर्ष भी हो सकता है।
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in an encyclopedic, śāstra-style exposition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"In defining universals (sāmānya), limit the scope to what is actually established by valid grounds; avoid overextension that leads to alternative partitions (cheda) or mere error (bhrānti).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Limits of Sāmānya: Establishment, Cheda-siddhānta, and Bhrānti","lookup_keywords":["sāmānya","cheda-siddhānta","bhrānti","establishment","padārtha"],"quick_summary":"A universal is posited only to the extent it is established; otherwise analytical division can yield different 'universals', and some positions may be mere error."}
Concept: Epistemic restraint: universals are theory-constructs bounded by pramāṇa-based establishment; unchecked 'cheda' (over-partitioning) and bhrānti (error) distort ontology.
Application: When classifying entities (in logic, grammar, or poetics), state the pramāṇa/criterion for the class; test whether alternative partitions explain data better or merely multiply abstractions.
Khanda Section: Nyaya–Vaisheshika / Padartha-viveka (Logic and Epistemology)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher draws circles and partitions on a board/palm-leaf diagram to show how different 'cuts' (cheda) create different groupings, warning students about mistaking error for universals.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru with stylus indicating partitioned diagrams on palm-leaf, students attentive, subdued palette, emphasis on clear geometric groupings and a cautionary gesture","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted diagram tablet, guru seated with authoritative posture, students holding palm-leaves, visual contrast between 'established' grouping and 'bhrānti' grouping","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, crisp instructional chart: one established sāmānya vs multiple cheda-based alternatives, annotations in Devanagari, clean lines and pedagogic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, madrasa-like setting, scholar demonstrating classification with ink diagrams, students debating, fine detail in writing instruments and paper textures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sāmānyastena → sāmānyaḥ + tena; siddhantato 'nyaḥ → siddhāntataḥ + anyaḥ; keṣāñcidbhrāntito → keṣāñcit + bhrāntitaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 346 (Padārtha-viveka / sāmānya-viśeṣa discussion)
FAQs
It imparts epistemic method: a universal (sāmānya) should be accepted only to the extent warranted by its proof; otherwise, excessive analytical splitting (cheda-siddhānta) can generate divergent theses, akin to conclusions born of error (bhrānti).
Beyond rites and myths, the Agni Purana also preserves śāstric reasoning—here, technical Nyāya/ Vaiśeṣika-style reflection on universals, valid grounds of inference, and how mistaken cognition produces competing doctrines.
It encourages disciplined discernment (viveka): accepting only what is properly established and avoiding delusion-driven views, which supports right understanding (samyag-jñāna) and steadier dharmic conduct.