Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 9
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
अन्यथापि गुरुर्वर्णः संयुक्तेपरिपन्थिनि पारुष्यायादिमांस्तत्र पूजिता न तु पञ्चमो
anyathāpi gururvarṇaḥ saṃyukteparipanthini pāruṣyāyādimāṃstatra pūjitā na tu pañcamo
ਹੋਰਥਾਂ (ਲਘੁ ਮੰਨਣ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ ਤਦ ਵੀ) ਜੇ ਅੱਖਰ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਵਿਅੰਜਨ ਨਾਲ ਰੁਕਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਗੁਰੂ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ; ‘ਪਰੁਸ਼੍ਯਾਇ’ ਆਦਿ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਣੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਹ ਨਿਯਮ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਪੰਜਵਾਂ ਵਿਕਲਪ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣਿਤ ਨਹੀਂ।
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating the Agni Purana’s technical sections to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Prosody scanning: treating syllables as guru when blocked by conjunct consonants; applying (and limiting) a specific rule-set in metrical analysis.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Guru determination under conjunct obstruction (saṃyoga) in chandas","lookup_keywords":["guru-laghu","saṃyukta","chandas","paripanthin","mātrā-nirṇaya"],"quick_summary":"In metrical counting, a syllable becomes heavy (guru) when followed/obstructed by a conjunct consonant; the text notes acceptance of this rule in a particular series while rejecting a ‘fifth option’ exception."}
Concept: Metrical beauty depends on consistent measurement; exceptions must be explicitly bounded.
Application: While scanning verses, mark a syllable as guru if a conjunct follows; do not apply an unapproved ‘fifth’ exception in this rule-series.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas & Varna/Prosody Rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prosody lesson: a verse line is written with guru (—) and laghu (⏑) marks; conjunct consonants are boxed to show why the preceding syllable is counted heavy; a rejected ‘fifth option’ is crossed out.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, classroom with palm-leaf prosody chart, guru/laghu symbols stylized, conjunct clusters highlighted, earthy palette, didactic gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate board with metrical marks in gold, teacher indicating boxed conjuncts, rich colors, devotional-academic ambience.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional diagram: line of Sanskrit with scansion marks, arrows from conjuncts to preceding syllable, minimal background, clarity-first.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar annotating a poetic folio with metrical marks, assistants holding ink and ruler, fine detail on script and marginalia."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गुरुर्वर्णः → गुरुः + वर्णः; संयुक्तेपरिपन्थिनि → संयुक्ते + परिपन्थिनि; पारुष्यायादिमान् → पारुष्याय + आदिमान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.7; Agni Purana 342.8
FAQs
It teaches a chandas (prosody) rule: a syllable is counted as guru (heavy) when a consonant cluster (saṃyukta) blocks it, with a noted exception regarding a ‘fifth’ option that is rejected.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves technical śāstra material—here, precise metrics/phonetics used for composing and scanning Sanskrit verse—showing its coverage of literary science (sāhitya-śāstra) alongside other disciplines.
By preserving correct recitation and metrical integrity, it supports accurate transmission of sacred and learned texts, which traditional dharma views as meritorious and protective of śāstra.