Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 11
Discrimination of the Qualities of Poetry (Kāvya-guṇa-viveka) — Closing Verse/Colophon Transition
असामयिकता नेयामेताञ्च मुनयो जगुः ग्राम्यता तु जघन्यार्थप्रतिपातिः खलीकृता
asāmayikatā neyāmetāñca munayo jaguḥ grāmyatā tu jaghanyārthapratipātiḥ khalīkṛtā
मुनींनी हे दोष सांगितले आहेत—वाणीतील असामयिकता टाळावी; आणि ‘ग्राम्यता’ म्हणजे नीच अर्थ प्रतिपादणारी, रूक्ष व असभ्य झालेली वाणी।
Lord Agni (teaching poetic theory in the Agni Purana, in dialogue tradition to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Editing and evaluating poetry/prose by avoiding stylistic faults like anachronism and vulgar diction; training students in refined expression (aucitya and śiṣṭa-vāk).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Kāvya-doṣa: Asāmayikatā and Grāmyatā","lookup_keywords":["asāmayikatā","grāmyatā","kāvya-doṣa","aucitya","jaghanārtha"],"quick_summary":"Two faults are flagged: untimely/inappropriate expression (asāmayikatā) and vulgar/coarse speech (grāmyatā) that suggests base meanings. Practical takeaway: maintain aucitya (contextual propriety) and śuddha-śabda (refined diction)."}
Concept: Aucitya (contextual fitness) as a governing norm of expression; ethical-aesthetic discipline of speech.
Application: Use audience, genre, time, and setting as filters; remove slang/obscenity and anachronistic idiom during revision.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya, Dosha–Guna: faults and merits of literary style)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned assembly of sages instructs a poet-scribe, pointing out two faults in a manuscript: untimely phrasing and coarse/vulgar wording, emphasizing refined speech.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, rishis seated in a sabhā with palm-leaf manuscript, one sage gesturing to reject coarse words, serene scholarly atmosphere, traditional ornaments and halos, flat decorative background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on the sages’ ornaments and manuscript edges, central guru-sage teaching a young poet, symbolic scroll showing crossed-out vulgar words, rich reds and greens, temple-pillared backdrop.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate lines and soft shading, instructional scene of a teacher correcting a student’s poem, annotated manuscript with marginal marks for aucitya and grāmyatā, calm classroom setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly library scene with scholars, fine textiles and carpets, one scholar indicating an anachronistic phrase and a coarse term on a folio, precise facial expressions, intricate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नेयामेताञ्च = नेया + एतान् + च; जघन्यार्थप्रतिपातिः = जघन्य + अर्थ + प्रतिपातिः (समास); खलीकृता = खली + कृता (कृदन्त).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 346 (Sāhitya-śāstra: doṣa-guṇa sections)
FAQs
It teaches Sahitya-śāstra criteria for rejecting poetic faults—specifically asāmayikatā (contextually untimely expression) and grāmyatā (coarse, base-meaning vulgarity).
Alongside ritual, dharma, and polity, the Agni Purana also systematizes literary theory; this verse is part of its formal definitions of kavya-doṣas used in Sanskrit criticism.
By discouraging crude and context-inappropriate speech, it supports śuddhi (refinement/purity) in language—an ethical discipline aligned with sattvic conduct and respectful communication.