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
अन्यथापि लघुत्वे सम्भाव्यमाने, संयुक्तेन परिपन्थिना (व्यञ्जनसंयोगेन) बाधिते वर्णे गुरुत्वं विधीयते; ‘पारुष्याय’ इत्यादौ तद् नियमः पूजितः, न तु पञ्चमः विकल्पः।
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.