Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 57
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
द्वितीयषष्ठाः सदृशाश् चतुर्थपञ्चमावपि आद्यन्तपादयोस्तुल्यौ परार्धसप्तमावपि
dvitīyaṣaṣṭhāḥ sadṛśāś caturthapañcamāvapi ādyantapādayostulyau parārdhasaptamāvapi
രണ്ടാം പാദവും ആറാം പാദവും സദൃശം; നാലാം-അഞ്ചാം പാദങ്ങളും അതുപോലെ. ആദ്യവും അന്തിമവും പാദങ്ങൾ തുല്യം; കൂടാതെ പരാർദ്ധത്തിലെ ഏഴാം പാദവും തദ്വത് തുല്യമാണ്.
Lord Agni (in instruction on Sahitya-shastra/Chandas to sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Vṛtta-vibhāga: pāda-sāmya-yojanā (2=6, 4=5, 1=8/antya) ityādi niyamaiḥ chandas-racanāyāṃ samatāṃ rakṣati; chandas-śuddhi-parīkṣaṇe upayujyate.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pāda-sāmya-yugmāni (2–6, 4–5, 1–antya)","lookup_keywords":["pāda-sāmya","dvitīya-ṣaṣṭha","caturtha-pañcama","ādya-antya","chandas-krama"],"quick_summary":"Metrical scheme defines which pādas mirror each other: 2 with 6, 4 with 5, and first with last; additionally a seventh-position rule applies in the latter half. This is a checklist for verifying a vṛtta’s internal symmetry."}
Concept: racanāyāṃ sāmya-niyamaḥ—pāda-yugmānāṃ tulya-bhāvaḥ chandas-siddhi-kāraṇam
Application: Kaviḥ pāda-krameṇa ‘pairing’ kṛtvā (2↔6, 4↔5, 1↔8/antya) vṛttaṃ saṃśodhayet; paṭhakaḥ chandas-bhaṅgaṃ śīghraṃ jānīyāt.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas/Prosody and Metre Classification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A metrical chart with eight pādas/segments is shown; matching pairs (2–6, 4–5, 1–8) are connected by lines while a teacher explains symmetry to students.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold outlines, schematic eight-pāda band with connecting arcs between paired pādas, guru gesturing with stylus, students seated, warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted pairing lines on a decorative metrical diagram, guru in ornate seat, manuscript and stylus, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional diagram with numbered pādas and pair-links, subtle shading, scholarly ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, precise numbered metrical grid, thin red lines linking paired pādas, scholars in a library setting, detailed borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Raga Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सदृशाश् → सदृशाः (visarga before c); चतुर्थपञ्चमावपि → चतुर्थपञ्चमौ अपि; आद्यन्तपादयोस्तुल्यौ → आद्यन्तपादयोः तुल्यौ; परार्धसप्तमावपि → परार्धसप्तमौ अपि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.56 (sthāna-sāmya); Agni Purana 342.58–59 (krama-yojana, Muraja-lakṣaṇa)
FAQs
It teaches a chandas (prosody) rule: which pādas (metrical quarters) must match each other (2=6, 4=5, 1=last, and a specified 7th-pāda relation in the latter half), aiding correct composition and verification of a metre.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also codifies Sahitya-shastra—technical Sanskrit poetics and metre—showing its coverage of literary science alongside other disciplines.
Accurate chandas preserves the integrity of sacred and classical recitation; maintaining correct metrical form is traditionally viewed as supporting right pronunciation and disciplined transmission of dharmic knowledge.