Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 31
Chapter 336 — काव्यादिलक्षणम्
Definitions of Poetry and Related Arts
तमसा मरुताप्यन्यैर् विभावैर् अतिनिर्भरैः कश्यप इति ज , ञ , ट च तादर्थमजहत्तत्रेति ज अनुष्टुभेति ज व्यक्तेति ञ सर्ववृत्तिप्रवृत्तञ्च सर्वभावप्रभावितम्
tamasā marutāpyanyair vibhāvair atinirbharaiḥ kaśyapa iti ja , ña , ṭa ca tādarthamajahattatreti ja anuṣṭubheti ja vyakteti ña sarvavṛttipravṛttañca sarvabhāvaprabhāvitam
तम, मरुत् आणि इतर अतिप्रबळ विभावांनी अभिभूत (पाठ) ‘कश्यप’ असा ज-, ञ- व ट-परंपरांनुसार आहे. तेथे ज-परंपरा ‘तादर्थम् अजहत्तत्र’ (अर्थ न सोडता) तसेच ‘अनुष्टुभे’ (अनुष्टुभ् छंदात) असे म्हणते; आणि ञ-परंपरा ‘व्यक्त’ असे म्हणते—जे सर्व वृत्तींची प्रवृत्ती घडवते व सर्व भावांनी प्रभावित होते.
Lord Agni (instructional narration in encyclopedic sections; verse includes scribal/recensional annotations)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Text-critical and phonetic guidance: records variant readings across recensional traditions (ja/ña/ṭa), notes metrical placement (anuṣṭubh), and preserves intended meaning in transmission.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Recensional variants (ja/ña/ṭa), anuṣṭubh note, and semantic retention","lookup_keywords":["ja-śākhā","ña-śākhā","ṭa-śākhā","anuṣṭubh","ajahattadartha"],"quick_summary":"Reports variant traditions for a reading (e.g., 'kaśyapa') and glosses such as 'not abandoning intended sense' and 'manifest', alongside a metrical note 'in anuṣṭubh', indicating scholastic preservation of meaning and metre."}
Concept: Transmission discipline: preserve both chandas (form) and artha (intended meaning) through recognized recensional authorities.
Application: When encountering divergent readings, test (1) anuṣṭubh fit, (2) artha-consistency ('ajahattadartha'), and (3) accepted śākhā authority before emending.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas & Vyakarana/phonetics notes)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Three reciters representing ja-, ña-, and ṭa-traditions debate a word-reading while a scribe notes 'anuṣṭubh' and 'ajahattadartha' in the margin; a dark wind-swept backdrop symbolizes 'tamasa' and 'maruta' overpowering forces.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, three scholars with distinct palm-leaf bundles labeled ja ña ṭa, scribe writing marginalia 'anuṣṭubh', stylized dark clouds and wind motifs behind, earthy palette and bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-leaf on manuscript margins and scholar ornaments, central folio with highlighted variant readings, symbolic dark-blue background for tamas, wind curls as decorative motif","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition: three columns for ja/ña/ṭa readings, a teacher pointing to anuṣṭubh scansion marks, subtle depiction of wind and darkness as allegory","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, library debate scene with three pandits, scribe annotating variants in red, atmospheric rendering of stormy sky through window, meticulous calligraphy"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मरुताप्यन्यैः = मरुता अपि अन्यैः; विभावैर् = विभावैः; सर्ववृत्तिप्रवृत्तञ्च = सर्व-वृत्ति-प्रवृत्तम् च. Verse contains apparent editorial/metrical markers (ज, ञ, ट) and fragmented prose; verbal form ‘अजहत्’ is contextually uncertain.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 336 (phonetic/prosodic notes and chandas discussion contiguous to this verse)
FAQs
It primarily conveys chandas/śāstra knowledge: identifying anuṣṭubh metre and recording variant readings across recensions (ja/ña/ṭa), a technical feature of prosody and textual transmission rather than a ritual injunction.
By embedding prosody (anuṣṭubh), semantic notes (“not abandoning the intended meaning”), and variant recensional markers, it shows the Purana’s coverage extending beyond theology into Sanskrit literary science and philological detail.
Indirectly, it supports dharmic learning: preserving correct metre and meaning safeguards accurate recitation and transmission, which traditional theology treats as meritorious and purifying when applied to sacred study.