Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 58
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
समौ तुर्यं पञ्चमन्तु क्रमेण विनियोजयेत् तुर्यौ योज्यौ तु तद्वच्च दलान्ताः क्रमपादयोः
samau turyaṃ pañcamantu krameṇa viniyojayet turyau yojyau tu tadvacca dalāntāḥ kramapādayoḥ
समवर्णान् क्रमेण तुर्यपञ्चमयोः विनियोजयेत्। तुर्यौ च योज्यौ तद्वत्; दलान्ताः क्रमशः पादद्वये अन्ते स्थापनीयाः।
Lord Agni (teaching to Vasiṣṭha in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Mātrā/vṛtta-yojanā: even-count units are assigned to 4th/5th positions in order; joining two ‘fourth-units’ and placing dalas at ends guides composition and scansion of pādas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Turyapañcama-viniyoga & dala-anta-nyāsa (mātrā-krama)","lookup_keywords":["turya","pañcama","viniyoga","dala-anta","pāda-krama"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a stepwise method to place specific units (4th, 5th) based on even counts, then join two fourth-units and set half-line boundaries at the ends of pādas. It functions as a construction rule for a particular metrical pattern."}
Concept: krama-vidhi—niyata-sthāna-vinyāsena rūpa-siddhiḥ (metrical form arises from ordered placement)
Application: Chandas-śikṣāyāṃ ‘unit placement’ (turya/pāñcama) niyamān anusṛtya pāda-racanā; scansion drills for students.
Khanda Section: Chandas & Prosody (Sanskrit Metrics / Pingala-style Matra-Vritta)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A step-by-step metrical construction diagram: numbered syllable/mātrā slots, with the 4th and 5th units highlighted; two 4th-units are bracketed together; dala boundaries marked at pāda ends.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized instructional panel with highlighted 4th/5th slots in a banded meter diagram, guru demonstrating with a pointer, earthy tones and bold contours.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on highlighted metrical brackets, ornate manuscript diagram showing turya-pañcama placement, devotional scholarly setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear pedagogic chart with numbered mātrā positions, soft colors, precise brackets showing two turyas joined, calm classroom scene.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous diagram on paper with red/blue highlights for 4th and 5th units, scholars discussing, fine border illumination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Raga Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पञ्चमन्तु → पञ्चमम् तु; तद्वच्च → तद्वत् च; दलान्ताः → दल-अन्ताः; क्रमपादयोः → क्रम-पादयोः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.56–57 (sāmya rules); Agni Purana 342.59 (Muraja scanning)
FAQs
It gives a technical prosodic rule for arranging metrical units: how to assign the 4th and 5th units in sequence, how two 4th-units may be combined, and how to place the dala (half-line segmentation) at pāda-endings.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves formal Sanskrit knowledge systems—here, chandas (metrics). Such prescriptive rules show the text functioning as a handbook for literary composition and grammatical-scientific analysis alongside dharma and worship.
Correct chandas is traditionally viewed as preserving the integrity and efficacy of sacred speech; accurate metrical arrangement supports error-free recitation and transmission, which is treated as meritorious and purifying in the broader Sanskrit tradition.