Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 18
Discrimination of the Qualities of Poetry (Kāvya-guṇa-viveka) — Closing Verse/Colophon Transition
प्रयुक्तवरशब्देन तथा शब्दान्तरेण च नावर्तते पदावृत्तौ वाच्यमावर्तते पदम्
prayuktavaraśabdena tathā śabdāntareṇa ca nāvartate padāvṛttau vācyamāvartate padam
पदावृत्तौ प्रयुक्तवरशब्देन अथवा शब्दान्तरेण च न दोषः; यत्र तदेव पदं पुनरावर्तते तत्रैव आवृत्तिर्वाच्या।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Practical rule for editors/poets: padāvṛtti (faulty word repetition) is counted only when the identical word recurs; using a synonym or a different word-form avoids the doṣa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Padāvṛtti: When repetition counts (same word only)","lookup_keywords":["padāvṛtti","punarukti","paryāya","śabdāntara","kāvya-śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Word-repetition is not charged when a synonym or a different lexical form is used. The doṣa applies only when the very same word is repeated."}
Alamkara Type: Doṣa (Padāvṛtti) with apavāda (exception)
Concept: Precision in defining a fault: repetition is formally tied to identity of the word-token, not merely similarity of sense.
Application: When revising, replace repeated lexemes with paryāyas or alternate derivational forms to maintain variety without changing meaning.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vyakarana & Kavya-śāstra: rules of diction and repetition)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript margin shows the same word circled twice (fault), then corrected by substituting a synonym; a teacher demonstrates swapping terms while keeping meaning constant.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scribe and guru over palm-leaf, repeated word marked in red, synonym written beside, restrained palette and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted manuscript and stylus, two word-forms displayed like medallions—same word repeated vs synonym substitution—rich ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional close-up: before/after correction panels, neat Devanagari, teacher’s hand pointing, soft colors and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with poet revising couplet, assistant offering a thesaurus-like list of paryāyas, intricate border patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nāvartate: न + आवर्तते; padāvṛttau: पद + आवृत्तौ; prayukta-vara-śabdena treated as multi-member tatpuruṣa compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 346.17 (punaruktatva classification)
FAQs
A technical rule of Sanskrit poetics/grammar: in padāvṛtti (word repetition), using a synonym or different wording avoids the fault of repetition; only the exact same word repeating counts as true repetition.
It shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond ritual and mythology into śāstraic disciplines like vyākaraṇa and kāvya-śāstra, preserving concrete compositional rules used in Sanskrit literary theory.
By promoting precise and refined speech, it supports disciplined learning (vidyā) and careful transmission of dharma-texts—qualities traditionally regarded as purifying and conducive to merit through correct study and teaching.