Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 22

Chapter 336 — काव्यादिलक्षणम्

Definitions of Poetry and Related Arts

Devanagari script

मात्राभिर्गणना सा जातिरिति काश्यपः सममर्धसमं वृत्तं विषमं पैङ्गलं त्रिधा

Transliteration

mātrābhirgaṇanā sā jātiriti kāśyapaḥ samamardhasamaṃ vṛttaṃ viṣamaṃ paiṅgalaṃ tridhā

Translation

ਕਾਸ਼੍ਯਪ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਮਾਤਰਾਵਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਿਣਤੀ ‘ਜਾਤਿ’ ਕਹੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ। ਅਤੇ ਪਿੰਗਲ ਦੇ ਮਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਵ੍ਰਿੱਤ ਤਿੰਨ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਦਾ ਹੈ—ਸਮ, ਅਰਧਸਮ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਸਮ।

Word by Word

• मात्राभिः: by mātrās (moras)
• मात्राभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental), बहुवचन

• गणना: counting / computation
• गणना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जातिः: jāti (mora-based metre)
• जातिः: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय

• काश्यपः: Kāśyapa
• काश्यपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समम्: even / equal
• समम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वृत्तम्)

• अर्धसमम्: half-even (semi-equal)
• अर्धसमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वृत्तम्)

• वृत्तम्: metre
• वृत्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विषमम्: uneven / irregular
• विषमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वृत्तम्)

• पैङ्गलम्: Paiṅgala (name/type of metre-system)
• पैङ्गलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पैङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वृत्तम्)

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मात्राभिर्गणना = मात्राभिः + गणना; जातिरिति = जातिः + इति (विसर्ग-लोप); सममर्धसमं = समम् + अर्धसमम् (सन्धि-लोप)

Characters & Entities

• Kāśyapa
• Piṅgala
• Chandas
• Jāti
• Vṛtta

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches chandas-vidyā (Sanskrit prosody): jāti is defined through mātrā-counting, and vṛtta is classified (per Piṅgala) into sama, ardhasama, and viṣama types for correct composition and recitation.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves technical śāstra material—here, a concise metrical taxonomy citing classical authorities (Kāśyapa and Piṅgala), showing its coverage of linguistic and literary sciences.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Accurate metre supports correct chanting and refined hymn-composition; in a dharmic context, disciplined, well-formed recitation is treated as a purifying act that safeguards meaning and enhances the efficacy of sacred speech.