Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 33
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
पञ्चभिश् च तथा षड्भिरधन्या परिकीर्तिता सप्तभिश् च तथा धन्या निष्फला परतो भवेत्
pañcabhiś ca tathā ṣaḍbhiradhanyā parikīrtitā saptabhiś ca tathā dhanyā niṣphalā parato bhavet
पाच अक्षरांचा तसेच सहा अक्षरांचा पाद ‘अधन्य’ (अशुभ) म्हणून सांगितला आहे. सात अक्षरांचा पाद ‘धन्य’ (शुभ) मानला जातो; त्यापेक्षा अधिक झाल्यास तो निष्फळ होतो.
Lord Agni (instructing Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Chandas/akṣara-count used as a nimitta: judging auspiciousness of a metrical unit (pāda) by syllable-count for composition, recitation, or omen-based selection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Akṣara-saṅkhyā-nimitta in chandas: 5/6 inauspicious, 7 auspicious","lookup_keywords":["chandas","akṣara","pañca","ṣaṭ","sapta"],"quick_summary":"Five- and six-syllable units are marked inauspicious; seven-syllable is auspicious; counts beyond these are treated as non-result-bearing in this nimitta rule."}
Concept: Saṅkhyā (number) as a carrier of guṇa/phalita valuation; formal structure (meter) is linked to predicted outcome.
Application: When selecting/teaching short meters or composing brief pādas, prefer seven-syllable units for ‘śubha’ framing; avoid 5–6 if the context is omen-sensitive (initiation, blessing, naming).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / Prosody and metrical classification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher of prosody points to a palm-leaf manuscript showing syllable counts; three columns labeled 5, 6 (inauspicious) and 7 (auspicious), with tally marks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural palette, a guru with stylus and palm-leaf, large clear numerals rendered as tally marks (5,6,7) beside short pāda lines, calm scholastic setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold border, manuscript and stylus highlighted, the ‘7’ column adorned with auspicious symbols (śrī, lotus), 5 and 6 muted.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram-like composition: akṣara boxes, neat calligraphy, guru explaining to students seated in a row.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a kitabkhana scene: scholar, manuscript, marginal annotations indicating pañca/ṣaṭ adhanyā, sapta dhanyā, fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṣaḍbhiradhanyā → ṣaḍbhiḥ + adhanyā; pañcabhiś/saptabhiś → pañcabhiḥ/saptabhiḥ (visarga before ca).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-śāstra/Chandas portions listing meters and akṣara counts; Agni Purana Śakuna rules where number-count determines śubha/āśubha
FAQs
It gives a technical rule from Chandas (Sanskrit prosody): pādas/metrical units with 5 or 6 syllables are labeled inauspicious, 7 syllables auspicious, and counts beyond this are said to be ineffective for the intended metrical/ritual result.
Alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also codifies literary-technical disciplines like metrics (chandas), showing it functions as a compendium of practical shastric rules used in composing and evaluating Sanskrit verse.
Because Sanskrit composition is often tied to mantra, stotra, and merit-producing recitation, the verse frames certain syllable-count structures as auspicious (dhanyā) or inauspicious (adhanyā), implying that correct metrical form supports the desired spiritual ‘fruit’ (phala).