Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 25
काव्यगुणविवेकः
Examination of the Qualities of Poetry
हारिद्रश् चैव कौसुम्भो नीली रागश् च स त्रिधा वैशेषिकः परिज्ञेयो यः स्वलक्षणगोचरः
hāridraś caiva kausumbho nīlī rāgaś ca sa tridhā vaiśeṣikaḥ parijñeyo yaḥ svalakṣaṇagocaraḥ
ពណ៌លឿងដូចរមៀត ពណ៌ក្រហមលឿងដូចកេសរ និងពណ៌ខៀវ—ការលាបពណ៌មានបីប្រភេទ។ អ្វីដែលត្រូវយល់ដឹងជាពិសេស តាមសញ្ញាកំណត់របស់ខ្លួន (svalakṣaṇa) នោះគេហៅថា «Vaiśeṣika» (ចំណេះដឹងអំពីលក្ខណៈពិសេស)។
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Illustrate Vaiśeṣika’s focus on particulars (svalakṣaṇa) using the example of specific color-qualities; train precise cognition and categorization of attributes as distinct, knowable entities.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Vaiśeṣika: Cognition of Particulars (Svalakṣaṇa) Illustrated via Color-Qualities","lookup_keywords":["vaiśeṣika","svalakṣaṇa","rāga (color)","haridra","nīlī"],"quick_summary":"Vaiśeṣika knowledge concerns what is grasped as a particular through its own defining mark (svalakṣaṇa). Color-qualities like yellow, saffron, and blue exemplify distinct, classifiable attributes."}
Concept: Epistemic focus on particulars apprehended via defining characteristics (svalakṣaṇa), aligning with Vaiśeṣika realism about qualities and categories.
Application: In reasoning and debate, distinguish universals from particulars; identify entities by their defining marks to avoid category errors.
Khanda Section: Darshana-shastra (Vaisheshika: categories and epistemology)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A philosopher-teacher demonstrates three dyed cloth samples—turmeric-yellow, saffron, and indigo-blue—while pointing to a diagram of ‘svalakṣaṇa’ and ‘viśeṣa’ on a board or manuscript.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scholar in traditional attire holding three colored cloths, palm-leaf manuscript with category diagram, subdued scholarly setting, earthy tones with vivid color swatches","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated ācārya with three color samples, gold borders framing a schematic of categories, rich pigments emphasizing yellow/saffron/blue","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene with labeled color samples and a neat padārtha chart, fine linework, calm scholarly ambience","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, madrasa-like debate scene, philosopher presenting dyed textiles, marginal notes indicating svalakṣaṇa, intricate textiles and precise color rendering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hāridraś caiva = hāridraḥ + ca + eva (visarga sandhi); rāgaś ca = rāgaḥ + ca; svalakṣaṇagocaraḥ = sva + lakṣaṇa + gocaraḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Darśana sections summarizing Vaiśeṣika categories and pramāṇa (near 345.25)
FAQs
It teaches a Vaiśeṣika epistemic point: a ‘particular’ (viśeṣa) is known through its own defining characteristic (svalakṣaṇa), illustrated via specific colour-types (yellow, kusumbha/saffron, blue).
Alongside rituals and dharma, the Agni Purana also digests formal Indian philosophy; here it summarizes Vaiśeṣika-style classification and the idea that cognition targets object-specific marks (svalakṣaṇa).
By sharpening discrimination (viveka) between particulars and their defining marks, it supports right knowledge (samyag-jñāna), which traditional dharma texts treat as a foundation for correct action and reduction of error-driven karma.