Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 8
Adhyāya 375 — समाधिः
Samādhi
वेदादिसर्वशास्त्रञ्च स्वयमेव प्रवर्तते अभीष्टछन्दोविषयं काव्यञ्चास्य प्रवर्तते
vedādisarvaśāstrañca svayameva pravartate abhīṣṭachandoviṣayaṃ kāvyañcāsya pravartate
वेदादी सर्व शास्त्रे स्वयमेव प्रवर्ततात; आणि त्याच्यासाठी अभिष्ट छंदांना विषय करून काव्यही आपोआप प्रकट होऊन प्रवाहित होते।
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Frames poetic composition as an outflow of śāstra-knowledge: choose desired chandas and let kāvya be structured accordingly; useful for curriculum design in kavi-śikṣā (training poets) and for positioning poetics as a śāstra grounded in Veda.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śāstra-pravṛtti and Chandas-āśrita Kāvya-pravṛtti","lookup_keywords":["veda-ādi-śāstra","pravartate","iṣṭa-chandas","kāvya-utpatti","sāhitya-śikṣā"],"quick_summary":"The verse presents a model where mastery of foundational śāstras naturally yields poetic expression, specifically guided by the metrical forms one intends to employ."}
Concept: Śāstra as a self-propelling stream culminating in refined expression (kāvya) when chandas is intentionally chosen.
Application: Adopt a staged pedagogy: śāstra-foundation → chandas-selection → kāvya-composition; treat meter as a deliberate constraint that shapes creativity.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya and Chandas; Encyclopedic knowledge transmission)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned sage surrounded by palm-leaf manuscripts of Veda and śāstras; from his speech emerge flowing lines arranged into metrical patterns, symbolizing kāvya arising from chosen chandas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ochre-red background, a seated ṛṣi with manuscripts labeled Veda and Śāstra, stylized sound-waves forming metrical grids, minimal landscape, traditional ornamentation, flat yet expressive faces","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights: sage on a throne-like seat, haloed, holding a palm-leaf; golden geometric bands representing chandas; rich textiles, jewel tones, embossed gold for manuscript borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework: instructional tableau showing chandas patterns as neat columns beside the sage; subdued palette, delicate shading, annotated manuscript motifs","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly library scene with a scholar-sage; margins filled with rhythmic calligraphic bands indicating meter; detailed carpets, shelves of books, precise architectural interior"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Vachaspati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वेदादिसर्वशास्त्रञ्च = वेदादि-सर्व-शास्त्रम् + च; काव्यञ्चास्य = काव्यम् + च + अस्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sāhitya-śāstra sections on chandas and kāvya-lakṣaṇa (within the 370s–380s adhyāyas)
FAQs
It conveys Sahitya-vidya in a technical sense: the activation/production (pravṛtti) of śāstric knowledge and the emergence of kāvya specifically governed by chandas (meter), emphasizing metrical competence as the operative domain of poetic composition.
By explicitly grouping “all śāstras beginning with the Veda” and then highlighting a specialized discipline (kāvya with chandas), the verse models the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic method—linking foundational revelation (Veda) to applied arts and sciences (literary theory and prosody).
The verse frames true learning and poetic expression as a naturally unfolding capacity aligned with dharmic knowledge; mastery of Veda-śāstra and disciplined speech (metered kāvya) is implied to refine intellect and purify expression, supporting merit through right understanding and cultured, restrained vāṇī (speech).