Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 14
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
सप्तधा सप्तपूर्वेण चेत् पादेनोत्तरोत्तरः एकद्वित्रिपदारम्भस्तुल्यः षोढा तदापरं
saptadhā saptapūrveṇa cet pādenottarottaraḥ ekadvitripadārambhastulyaḥ ṣoḍhā tadāparaṃ
Bila, bergerak pāda demi pāda, setiap bentuk berikutnya dihitung dengan merujuk pada ukuran tujuh-lapis dari yang sebelumnya, maka pola yang berawal dengan pembukaan satu-, dua-, dan tiga-pāda adalah sejenis; sesudah itu ia dihitung sebagai enam belas-lapis.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) to Vasiṣṭha (implied dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Advanced enumeration of patterned placements across pādas using a stepwise counting rule (pāda-by-pāda progression), supporting systematic cataloging of yamaka distributions for composition and critique.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāda-krama gaṇanā: saptadhā-pūrvaka and ṣoḍaśadhā extension","lookup_keywords":["pāda-krama","saptadhā","ṣoḍaśadhā","gaṇanā","ārambha"],"quick_summary":"Gives a counting procedure: if each succeeding pāda is reckoned with reference to a preceding sevenfold measure, then patterns beginning with one-, two-, and three-pāda openings are treated as equivalent; beyond that, enumeration proceeds as sixteenfold."}
Alamkara Type: Yamaka (gaṇanā/saṅkhyā-bheda in placement)
Concept: Rule-governed enumeration (gaṇanā) as a śāstric method to exhaustively classify forms.
Application: Use stepwise counting to generate a catalog of allowable yamaka distributions for a given verse structure, aiding both composition drills and commentary.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / Prosody: metrical computation and pāda-based enumeration)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sequential diagram shows pādas labeled 1–4 with arrows indicating progression; a sevenfold reference set is shown as a base, then expanded to a sixteenfold table; the teacher counts on fingers while students copy tables.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold sequential arrows across four pādas, sevenfold base motif like a rosette, expanded sixteenfold grid, guru counting with fingers, earthy tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted numeric tables (7 and 16), ornate borders, scholar with stylus and palm-leaf, symmetrical instructional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear step-by-step flowchart with pāda labels and counts, gentle gradients, didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, mathematician-poet hybrid scene, ruled tables with 7→16 expansion, fine calligraphy, scholars consulting manuscripts"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पादेनोत्तरोत्तरः = पादेन + उत्तर-उत्तरः; एकद्वित्रिपदारम्भस्तुल्यः = एकद्वित्रिपदारम्भः + तुल्यः; तदापरं = तदा + अपरम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.12-342.13 (type and positional parameters); Agni Purana 342.15 (named subtypes: pādānta, kāñcī)
FAQs
It imparts a technical rule from Chandas (Sanskrit prosody) describing how successive pādas are enumerated/classified using a sevenfold reference, and how certain openings (1-, 2-, 3-pāda starts) are treated as equivalent, with a later shift to a sixteenfold count.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves śāstric systems like prosody and poetics; this verse exemplifies its handbook-like treatment of metrical computation used in composing, analyzing, and transmitting Sanskrit literature.
While primarily technical, correct chandas supports accurate recitation and preservation of sacred and literary texts; such correctness is traditionally associated with maintaining śabda-śuddhi (purity of sound) and the efficacy of recitation.