Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 59
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
अर्धयोरन्तिमाद्यौ तु मुरजे सदृशावभौ पादार्धपतितो वर्णः प्रातिलोम्यानुलोमतः
ardhayorantimādyau tu muraje sadṛśāvabhau pādārdhapatito varṇaḥ prātilomyānulomataḥ
‘ମୁରଜ’ ଛନ୍ଦରେ ପୂର୍ବାର୍ଧର ଅନ୍ତିମ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଓ ଉତ୍ତରାର୍ଧର ଆଦ୍ୟ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସଦୃଶ। ପାଦମଧ୍ୟରେ ପତିତ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣକୁ ପ୍ରାତିଲୋମ୍ୟ ଓ ଅନୁଲୋମ—ଦୁଇ ପ୍ରକାର ପାଠରେ ପରୀକ୍ଷା କରି ନିର୍ଣ୍ଣୟ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Muraja-nāma vṛtta-parīkṣā: ardha-sandhi-sthāne (pūrvārdhānta/uttarārdhādi) varṇa-sāmyaṃ jñātvā chandas-śuddhiṃ rakṣati; madhya-varṇaṃ anuloma-prātiloma-gaṇanayā nirṇīyate.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Muraja-vṛtta: ardha-sandhi-sāmya & anuloma-prātiloma-gaṇanā","lookup_keywords":["Muraja","ardhānta-ādi-sāmya","prātilomya","anuloma","pāda-madhya"],"quick_summary":"In Muraja metre, the last syllable of the first half and the first syllable of the second half must match. The mid-pāda syllable is verified by scanning both backward and forward to avoid miscounting."}
Concept: dvi-mārga-parīkṣā (anuloma-prātiloma) satyatā-sādhikā—niścayaḥ dvipakṣa-gaṇanayā dṛḍhībhavati
Application: Chandas-adhyayanī madhya-sthāna-bhrāntiṃ nivārayituṃ pādaṃ ubhayataḥ gaṇayet; Muraja-racanāyāṃ ardha-sandhi-sāmyaṃ avasyam rakṣet.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / Prosody and metrical phonetics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript page titled ‘Muraja’ shows two halves of a pāda; the junction syllables are circled as identical; arrows indicate forward (anuloma) and reverse (prātiloma) scanning toward the midpoint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold arrows in opposite directions over a stylized pāda band, junction syllables highlighted, guru explaining ‘anuloma-prātiloma’, warm palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted circles on junction syllables, ornate manuscript labeled Muraja, scholarly devotional ambience, rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional arrows forward/backward, midpoint marked, teacher and students, fine detailing suitable for technical explanation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, precise calligraphic syllables with red circles at the junction, two arrows (forward/back), scholars debating scansion, detailed margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्धयोरन्तिमाद्यौ → अर्धयोः अन्तिमाद्यौ; सदृशावभौ → सदृशौ उभौ; पादार्धपतितो → पादार्धपतितः; प्रातिलोम्यानुलोमतः → प्रातिलोम्य-अनुलोमतः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.56–58 (sāmya/krama rules); Agni Purana 342.60 (nyāsa/bandhana—terminology overlap: ‘bandhana’ vs ‘sandhi’)
FAQs
It teaches a prosodic rule for the Muraja metre: the boundary syllables of the two halves correspond, and the midpoint syllable of a pāda may be confirmed by scanning both forward (anuloma) and backward (prātilomya).
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves technical Śāstra material—here, chandas (metrics)—showing it functions as a compendium that includes linguistic and literary sciences used for composing and verifying Sanskrit verse.
By ensuring correct metre and recitation structure, it supports accurate transmission of sacred and learned texts; in traditional understanding, such correctness safeguards the intended efficacy (śabda-śakti) of hymns and teachings.