Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 6
Chapter 336 — काव्यादिलक्षणम्
Definitions of Poetry and Related Arts
वर्गेषु वर्णवृन्दं स्यात् पदं सुप्तिड्प्रभेदतः सङ्क्षेपाद्वाक्यमिष्टार्थव्यवछिन्ना पदाबली
vargeṣu varṇavṛndaṃ syāt padaṃ suptiḍprabhedataḥ saṅkṣepādvākyamiṣṭārthavyavachinnā padābalī
Внутри фонетических классов (varga) совокупность звуков называется «varṇa-vṛnda» (группа букв). «Pada» (слово) — то, что различается по именным и глагольным окончаниям (sup и tiṅ). Кратко, «vākya» (предложение) — это последовательность слов, ограниченная так, чтобы передать желаемый смысл.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vashistha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Apply precise definitions of varṇa-group, word, and sentence to improve grammatical analysis, parsing (padaccheda), and clear composition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Definitions of varṇa-vṛnda, pada, and vākya","lookup_keywords":["varṇa-vṛnda","pada","sup","tiṅ","vākya"],"quick_summary":"A varṇa-vṛnda is a cluster within phonetic classes; a pada is defined by nominal/verbal inflections (sup/tiṅ); a vākya is a word-sequence bounded to convey intended meaning—useful for parsing and composition."}
Concept: Meaning arises from structured linguistic units; correct delimitation of words and sentences is essential for intended sense.
Application: When reading śāstra/kāvya: (1) identify sup/tiṅ endings to mark padas, (2) group padas into a vākya by intended sense, (3) resolve ambiguity by checking syntactic expectancy (ākāṅkṣā) and proximity (sannidhi).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vyakarana: Pada–Vakya–Varna definitions)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic teaching scene: letters grouped into varṇa-vṛnda, then inflected into padas with sup/tiṅ endings, then arranged into a vākya conveying a clear meaning; shown as a stepwise diagram beside a teacher.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru pointing to a three-tier diagram: varṇa clusters, padas with endings, vākya as a garland of words; stylized palm-leaf manuscript motifs, calm scholastic mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted three-step linguistic ladder labeled varṇa-vṛnda/pada/vākya, central guru figure, ornate borders, rich colors emphasizing sacred learning","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional infographic aesthetic within traditional style, clear labels ‘sup’ and ‘tiṅ’, arrows showing formation of sentence meaning, fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar’s desk with folios showing grammatical paradigms, teacher and students, marginal diagram of word-chain forming a sentence, detailed stationery and inkpots"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुप्तिड्प्रभेदतः = सुप् + तिङ् + प्रभेदतः (tiṅ > tiḍ in some phonetic/orthographic tradition). सङ्क्षेपाद्वाक्यम् = सङ्क्षेपात् + वाक्यम्. इष्टार्थव्यवछिन्ना = इष्ट-अर्थ-व्यवच्छिन्ना (spelling variant: व्यवछिन्ना/व्यवच्छिन्ना). पदाबली = पद-आबली.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 336.5 (varṇa classification); Agni Purana 336.7 (kāvya-lakṣaṇa built on language)
FAQs
It imparts Vyākaraṇa-vidyā basics: how phonemes are grouped (varṇa-vṛnda), what counts as a word (pada) via sup/tiṅ inflections, and what constitutes a sentence (vākya) as a meaning-bounded word-sequence.
By presenting formal linguistic definitions (phoneme, word, sentence) alongside other disciplines, the Agni Purana functions as a compendium that includes śāstric language-science (Vyākaraṇa/Sāhitya) in addition to ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
Accurate understanding of words and sentences supports correct recitation, interpretation, and teaching of śāstra; this reduces error in mantra/śruti-based practice and is traditionally regarded as purifying through disciplined, truthful speech (śabda-śuddhi).