Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 1
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे अलङ्कारे अभिनयादिनिरूपणं नामैकचत्वारिंशदधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ द्विचत्वारिंशदधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः शब्दालङ्काराः अग्निरुचाच स्यादावृत्तिरनुप्रासो वर्णानां पदवाक्ययोः एकवर्णानेकवर्णावृत्तेर्वर्णगुणो द्विधा
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe alaṅkāre abhinayādinirūpaṇaṃ nāmaikacatvāriṃśadadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha dvicatvāriṃśadadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ śabdālaṅkārāḥ agnirucāca syādāvṛttiranuprāso varṇānāṃ padavākyayoḥ ekavarṇānekavarṇāvṛttervarṇaguṇo dvidhā
ଏହିପରି ଶ୍ରୀମଦ୍ ଅଗ୍ନେୟ ମହାପୁରାଣର ଅଲଙ୍କାର-ପ୍ରକରଣରେ ‘ଅଭିନୟାଦି-ନିରୂପଣ’ ନାମକ ୩୪୧ତମ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ ସମାପ୍ତ ହେଲା। ଏବେ ୩୪୨ତମ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ ‘ଶବ୍ଦାଲଙ୍କାର’ ଆରମ୍ଭ। ଅଗ୍ନି କହିଲେ—ପଦ ଓ ବାକ୍ୟରେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣମାନଙ୍କର ପୁନରାବୃତ୍ତି ହେଉଛି ଅନୁପ୍ରାସ; ଏକ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣ କିମ୍ବା ଅନେକ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଆବୃତ୍ତିଭେଦରେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣଗୁଣ ଦୁଇ ପ୍ରକାର।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"Define and classify śabdālaṅkāras (sound-ornaments) for composing and evaluating poetry, and for training reciters/actors to produce intended sonic effects.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Anuprāsa (Alliteration) as Varṇa-āvṛtti; Twofold Varṇa-guṇa","lookup_keywords":["anuprāsa","āvṛtti","varṇa-guṇa","śabdālaṅkāra","padavākya"],"quick_summary":"Anuprāsa is defined as repetition of phonemes in words/sentences. Sound-ornament is classified into two types based on repetition of one phoneme versus multiple phonemes."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa
Concept: Śabda as a craft-object: patterned repetition produces aesthetic ornament.
Application: Use controlled phoneme repetition to heighten musicality and memorability in verse, dialogue, and performance recitation.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Alankara-shastra / Kavya-śāstra)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as teacher seated in a sage-assembly, pointing to a palm-leaf manuscript where repeated syllables are highlighted, introducing śabdālaṅkāras and defining anuprāsa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Agni-deva with radiant halo teaching rishis, palm-leaf manuscript with repeated syllables marked, warm ochres and reds, stylized faces, flat perspective, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Agni seated on a pedestal with gold-leaf halo and jewelry, sages listening, manuscript and stylus in foreground, rich reds/greens, embossed gold detailing emphasizing ‘anuprāsa’ as repeated letters.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau: Agni pointing to written examples of repeated phonemes on a manuscript, clean linework, soft shading, muted palette, didactic labels for ‘āvṛtti’ and ‘varṇa-guṇa’.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholarly assembly with Agni as luminous figure, scribes and poets, manuscript showing repeated letters, fine brushwork, architectural pavilion, delicate floral margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य्→इति; नामैक→नाम + एक; ऽध्यायः→अध्यायः; अग्निरुचाच→अग्निः + उवाच; स्यादावृत्तिरनुप्रासो→स्यात् + आवृत्तिः + अनुप्रासः; पदवाक्ययोः (द्वन्द्व) ; एकवर्णानेकवर्णावृत्तेर्वर्णगुणो→एकवर्ण + अनेकवर्ण + आवृत्तेः + वर्णगुणः
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra: chapters on alaṅkāra-bheda, guṇa-doṣa, rīti/vṛtti, chandas-nirūpaṇa (adjacent chapters around 341–343)
FAQs
It gives a technical definition from Alaṅkāra-śāstra: anuprāsa (alliteration) is the repetition of phonemes in words and sentences, classified as single-sound or multi-sound repetition.
Beyond mythology and ritual, the Agni Purana also codifies Sanskrit literary science; this verse opens a systematic chapter on sound-based poetic ornaments, showing the text’s coverage of aesthetics and linguistic theory.
Indirectly, it supports dharmic learning: mastering śāstra such as poetics refines speech and recitation, aiding correct transmission of sacred and literary texts—considered meritorious as disciplined study (svādhyāya).