Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 6
Chapter 336 — काव्यादिलक्षणम्
Definitions of Poetry and Related Arts
वर्गेषु वर्णवृन्दं स्यात् पदं सुप्तिड्प्रभेदतः सङ्क्षेपाद्वाक्यमिष्टार्थव्यवछिन्ना पदाबली
vargeṣu varṇavṛndaṃ syāt padaṃ suptiḍprabhedataḥ saṅkṣepādvākyamiṣṭārthavyavachinnā padābalī
ವರ್ಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವರ್ಣಗಳ ಗುಚ್ಛವನ್ನು ‘ವರ್ಣವೃಂದ’ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ. ‘ಪದ’ ಎಂದರೆ ಸುಪ್ ಮತ್ತು ತಿಙ್ (ನಾಮ ಹಾಗೂ ಕ್ರಿಯಾ ವಿಭಕ್ತಿ/ಪ್ರತ್ಯಯ) ಭೇದದಿಂದ ನಿರ್ಧಾರವಾಗುವುದು. ಸಂಕ್ಷೇಪವಾಗಿ, ಇಷ್ಟಾರ್ಥವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸುವಂತೆ ಮಿತಿಗೊಳಿಸಿದ ಪದಗಳ ಸರಣಿಯೇ ‘ವಾಕ್ಯ’.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vashistha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Apply precise definitions of varṇa-group, word, and sentence to improve grammatical analysis, parsing (padaccheda), and clear composition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Definitions of varṇa-vṛnda, pada, and vākya","lookup_keywords":["varṇa-vṛnda","pada","sup","tiṅ","vākya"],"quick_summary":"A varṇa-vṛnda is a cluster within phonetic classes; a pada is defined by nominal/verbal inflections (sup/tiṅ); a vākya is a word-sequence bounded to convey intended meaning—useful for parsing and composition."}
Concept: Meaning arises from structured linguistic units; correct delimitation of words and sentences is essential for intended sense.
Application: When reading śāstra/kāvya: (1) identify sup/tiṅ endings to mark padas, (2) group padas into a vākya by intended sense, (3) resolve ambiguity by checking syntactic expectancy (ākāṅkṣā) and proximity (sannidhi).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vyakarana: Pada–Vakya–Varna definitions)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic teaching scene: letters grouped into varṇa-vṛnda, then inflected into padas with sup/tiṅ endings, then arranged into a vākya conveying a clear meaning; shown as a stepwise diagram beside a teacher.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru pointing to a three-tier diagram: varṇa clusters, padas with endings, vākya as a garland of words; stylized palm-leaf manuscript motifs, calm scholastic mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted three-step linguistic ladder labeled varṇa-vṛnda/pada/vākya, central guru figure, ornate borders, rich colors emphasizing sacred learning","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional infographic aesthetic within traditional style, clear labels ‘sup’ and ‘tiṅ’, arrows showing formation of sentence meaning, fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar’s desk with folios showing grammatical paradigms, teacher and students, marginal diagram of word-chain forming a sentence, detailed stationery and inkpots"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुप्तिड्प्रभेदतः = सुप् + तिङ् + प्रभेदतः (tiṅ > tiḍ in some phonetic/orthographic tradition). सङ्क्षेपाद्वाक्यम् = सङ्क्षेपात् + वाक्यम्. इष्टार्थव्यवछिन्ना = इष्ट-अर्थ-व्यवच्छिन्ना (spelling variant: व्यवछिन्ना/व्यवच्छिन्ना). पदाबली = पद-आबली.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 336.5 (varṇa classification); Agni Purana 336.7 (kāvya-lakṣaṇa built on language)
FAQs
It imparts Vyākaraṇa-vidyā basics: how phonemes are grouped (varṇa-vṛnda), what counts as a word (pada) via sup/tiṅ inflections, and what constitutes a sentence (vākya) as a meaning-bounded word-sequence.
By presenting formal linguistic definitions (phoneme, word, sentence) alongside other disciplines, the Agni Purana functions as a compendium that includes śāstric language-science (Vyākaraṇa/Sāhitya) in addition to ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
Accurate understanding of words and sentences supports correct recitation, interpretation, and teaching of śāstra; this reduces error in mantra/śruti-based practice and is traditionally regarded as purifying through disciplined, truthful speech (śabda-śuddhi).