Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 11
Chapter 336 — काव्यादिलक्षणम्
Definitions of Poetry and Related Arts
भवेन्मध्यमसन्दर्भन्नातिकुत्सितविग्रहम् वृत्तच्छायाहरं वृत्तं गन्धिनैतत् किलोत्कटम्
bhavenmadhyamasandarbhannātikutsitavigraham vṛttacchāyāharaṃ vṛttaṃ gandhinaitat kilotkaṭam
ಸಂಧರ್ಭ-ಸಂಬಂಧ ಮಧ್ಯಮವಾಗಿರಬೇಕು ಮತ್ತು ವಿಗ್ರಹ ಅತಿದೋಷಯುಕ್ತವಾಗಿರಬಾರದು. ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ವೃತ್ತದ ‘ಛಾಯೆ’ (ಲಯ-ಸ್ವಭಾವ)ವನ್ನು ಕಸಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ವೃತ್ತವನ್ನು ‘ಗಂಧಿ’ (ಮಿಶ್ರ/ದೂಷಿತ) ಎಂದು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ; ಇದನ್ನೇ ಗಂಭೀರ ದೋಷವೆಂದು ಮನ್ಯಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic topics, here poetic metrics/poetics)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Maintain moderate syntactic cohesion and avoid faulty construction; in metrics, avoid 'shadow-stealing' (mixing cadences) that produces gandhin defect in verse.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Gandhin dosa: metre tainted by another metre’s cadence","lookup_keywords":["gandhin","vritta-dosha","vritta-chhaya","sandarbh","vigraha"],"quick_summary":"Good composition keeps linkage moderate and avoids structural faults; a metre that borrows the characteristic cadence of another is labeled gandhin (tainted), treated as a serious defect in prosody."}
Concept: Integrity of form: each metre and composition has its own lakshana; mixing that obscures identity is a dosa.
Application: In versification, verify gana/pada patterns so the intended metre’s cadence is preserved; in prose/verse, keep cohesion balanced and grammar sound.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Chandas and poetic composition)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prosody teacher shows two metrical patterns on a board; one verse line visibly 'borrows' the cadence of another, marked as gandhin defect; students correct the pattern.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, acharya with palm-leaf and stylus, two rhythmic wave motifs representing two metres, a mixed wave labeled gandhī as a flaw, didactic temple-school ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted teaching board with metrical marks, teacher indicating the 'shadow' of another metre, ornate classroom setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional chart of two vritta patterns and a third mixed/tainted pattern labeled gandhin, fine lines and readable layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, madrasa-like setting, scholar demonstrating metrical scansion with inked marks, a corrected line beside a flawed mixed-cadence line, detailed faces and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भवेन्मध्यमसन्दर्भन् = bhavet + madhyama-sandarbham (final -t + m → nm); नातिकुत्सितविग्रहम् = na-ati-kutsita-vigraham; गन्धिनैतत् = gandhin + etad; किलोत्कटम् = kila + utkaṭam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 336.9-336.10 (prose modes and samasa density); Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra portions on chandas and doshas (adjacent verses in 336)
FAQs
It teaches a technical rule of Chandas/Kavya: a verse should maintain coherent, moderate composition and must not use a metre that imitates or borrows the defining cadence (‘chāyā’) of another metre, which is treated as a serious metrical fault.
By laying down standards for Sanskrit literary composition and prosody (vṛtta-lakṣaṇa and doṣa), it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a handbook not only of ritual and dharma but also of technical arts like poetics and metrics.
In a Purāṇic context, disciplined and correct recitation/composition supports clarity (śuddhi) of speech and intention; avoiding defective metre preserves the integrity of sacred and learned expression, which is treated as meritorious and conducive to auspicious results.