Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 32
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
दुःखेन कृतमत्यर्थं कविसामर्थ्यसूचकम् दुष्करं नीरसत्वेपि विदग्धानां महोत्सवः
duḥkhena kṛtamatyarthaṃ kavisāmarthyasūcakam duṣkaraṃ nīrasatvepi vidagdhānāṃ mahotsavaḥ
ਬਹੁਤ ਕਠਿਨ ਪਰਿਸ਼੍ਰਮ ਨਾਲ ਬਣੀ ਰਚਨਾ ਕਵੀ ਦੀ ਸਮਰੱਥਾ ਦਾ ਸਾਫ਼ ਸੰਕੇਤ ਹੈ। ਰਸ ਨਾ ਵੀ ਹੋਵੇ, ਜੋ ਦੁਰਘਟ ਹੈ ਉਹ ਵਿਦਗਧ ਰਸਿਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਮਹੋਤਸਵ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana dialogue: Agni instructing Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"Guiding literary criticism: evaluating effort, difficulty (dūṣkara), and technical virtuosity as separate from rasa; training connoisseurship (sahrdaya-bhāva).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Kavi-sāmarthya and Dūṣkara-prāśaṃsā (Virtuosity vs Rasa)","lookup_keywords":["kavi-sāmarthya","duḥkhena kṛta","nīrasatva","dūṣkara","vidagdha"],"quick_summary":"States that arduous composition reveals poetic capability; even if rasa is weak, technical difficulty itself becomes a delight for discerning critics, emphasizing craft-appreciation alongside aesthetic relish."}
Alamkara Type: Guna-dosha vicara (evaluation of merit/defect); emphasis on śilpa-guṇa (technical excellence)
Concept: Value of tapas-like effort in skill (sāmarthya) and the role of the discerning mind in appreciation.
Application: In pedagogy and critique, praise both rasa and technical mastery; use difficult exercises to reveal competence, but do not mistake difficulty alone for poetic excellence.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya-śāstra / Alaṅkāra-śāstra: principles of poetry and literary aesthetics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A poet laboring over composition at night, while a circle of connoisseurs (vidagdhas) later celebrates the difficult feat like a festival, even if the poem’s emotional flavor is thin.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel narrative: left—kavi sweating in lamplight writing; right—learned sahrdayas in a semicircle applauding, festive lamps and floral motifs, stylized faces and bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central poet with gold-highlighted lamp and manuscript, surrounding connoisseurs with jeweled ornaments, celebratory garlands, gold embossing to suggest ‘mahotsava’","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined classroom/court critique scene, one scholar pointing to a complex verse on a board/palm leaf, others nodding; emphasis on didactic clarity and delicate shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, nocturnal atelier with oil lamp, poet composing; later salon with critics examining a scroll, subtle expressions of admiration, detailed textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कविसामर्थ्यसूचकम् = कवि + सामर्थ्य + सूचकम्; नीरसत्वेपि = नीरसत्वे + अपि; महोत्सवः = महत् + उत्सवः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342 (discussion of poetic construction, bandha, vikalpa, śabda-śilpa)
FAQs
It imparts Kavya-śāstra (Sanskrit poetics): poetic mastery is shown by difficult, effortful composition, and connoisseurs (vidagdhas) value technical difficulty even when rasa is weak.
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves formal literary theory—how poetry is evaluated (skill, difficulty, rasa)—showing its wide scope as a compendium of arts and sciences.
It promotes disciplined effort (śrama) and refined discernment (viveka): cultivating learning, careful speech, and aesthetic judgment is treated as a sāttvika pursuit that supports dharmic self-culture.