Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 29
Chapter 336 — काव्यादिलक्षणम्
Definitions of Poetry and Related Arts
कल्पो ऽतिनिन्दितस्तस्मिन्विशेषानादरः सतां नगरार्णवशैलर्तु चन्द्रार्काश्रमपादपैः
kalpo 'tininditastasminviśeṣānādaraḥ satāṃ nagarārṇavaśailartu candrārkāśramapādapaiḥ
ਉਸ ਕਿਸਮ ਦੀ ਰਚਨਾ ਵਿੱਚ ‘ਕਲਪ’ (ਸ਼ੈਲੀ-ਰਚਨਾ) ਬਹੁਤ ਨਿੰਦਣਯ ਹੈ; ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਦਵਾਨਾਂ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਮੰਨੇ ਭੇਦਾਂ ਦਾ ਆਦਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਅਤੇ ‘ਨਗਰ, ਅਰਨਵ, ਸ਼ੈਲ, ਰਿਤੁ, ਚੰਦਰ, ਅਰਕ, ਆਸ਼੍ਰਮ, ਪਾਦਪ’ ਆਦਿ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਬੇਵਿਚਾਰ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s primary narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Editing and critique of poetry by identifying doṣa (fault) arising from indiscriminate word-usage and loss of semantic distinctions; improves diction and propriety.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Kalpa-doṣa: censured construction from disregard of semantic distinctions","lookup_keywords":["kalpa-doṣa","kavya-doṣa","anādara (disregard)","śabda-viveka","nagara arṇava śaila"],"quick_summary":"Defines a poetic fault where a compositional 'kalpa' is condemned because it ignores learned distinctions, using grand nouns (city, ocean, mountain, season, moon, sun, hermitage, tree) indiscriminately and improperly."}
Concept: Aucitya and viveka: words must be chosen with regard to precise distinctions recognized by the learned.
Application: In revision, test each grand noun for contextual fit (e.g., 'ocean' vs 'lake', 'mountain' vs 'hill'); avoid inflated, generic grandeur that blurs meaning.
Khanda Section: Kavya-shastra (Sahitya-shastra) — Poetic faults (doṣa) and improprieties in diction
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Hasya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A poet’s draft is corrected by a pandit who circles misused grand words—city, ocean, mountain, season, moon, sun, hermitage, tree—showing how indiscriminate diction becomes a fault.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural aesthetic, scholar with stylus correcting palm-leaf, highlighted word-panels 'nagara arṇava śaila ṛtu candra arka āśrama pādapa', restrained expressions of critique, decorative borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-leaf on manuscript margins, seated vidvan pointing to corrected terms, ornate frame, emphasis on textual authority and refinement","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene of proofreading, clear labels for each misused noun, gentle pastel tones, focus on pedagogy of aucitya","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature in a scriptorium, editor and poet debating word-choice, marginal annotations in red, detailed paper texture and calligraphy"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कल्पोऽतिनिन्दितः = कल्पः अति-निन्दितः; तस्मिन्विशेषानादरः = तस्मिन् विशेष-अनादरः; शैलर्तु = शैल-ऋतु; चन्द्रार्काश्रमपादपैः = चन्द्र-अर्क-आश्रम-पादपैः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 336 (kavya-doṣa section around this verse)
FAQs
It teaches a technical rule of Sanskrit poetics: a condemned style occurs when a poet ignores semantic and contextual distinctions, using major nouns (city, ocean, mountain, etc.) indiscriminately, producing impropriety and loss of precision.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves formal literary theory (kāvya-śāstra), including classification of doṣas (faults) and standards of learned criticism—showing its wide, encyclopedia-like coverage of arts and sciences.
By promoting disciplined, truthful, and context-appropriate speech, it supports dharmic communication; refined language is treated as a form of cultural and ethical purity aligned with satām (the wise).