Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 37
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
चक्रञ्चक्राब्जकं दण्डो मुरजाश्चेति चाष्टधा प्रत्यर्धं प्रतिपादं स्यादेकान्तरसमाक्षरा
cakrañcakrābjakaṃ daṇḍo murajāśceti cāṣṭadhā pratyardhaṃ pratipādaṃ syādekāntarasamākṣarā
சந்த ஒழுங்குகள் எட்டு வகை—சக்ர, சக்ர, அப்ஜக, தண்ட, முரஜ முதலியவை. ஒவ்வொரு அரைச் செய்யுளிலும், ஒவ்வொரு பாதத்திலும் எழுத்துகளை மாறிமாறி சமமாக (சமாக்ஷரமாக) அமைக்க வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s instructional mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Cataloging and applying named bandha-patterns (cakra, abjaka, daṇḍa, muraja, etc.) with strict alternating syllabic/akṣara regularity across hemistichs and quarters for composing citra verses.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Eightfold Bandha Patterns and Alternating Akṣara Rule","lookup_keywords":["cakra-bandha","abjaka","daṇḍa","muraja","aṣṭadhā","ekāntara-samākṣara"],"quick_summary":"Bandha-patterns are enumerated as eight types (including cakra, abjaka, daṇḍa, muraja). The governing rule is alternating, evenly matched syllables/letters in each half-verse and each quarter-verse."}
Alamkara Type: Citra (Bandha-kāvya)
Concept: Constraint-based composition: named forms plus a generative rule (alternation) produce multiple valid realizations.
Application: Use the alternation rule as a checklist while composing/teaching; verify each pāda/ardha for matched positions to avoid bandha-break (doṣa).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / Prosody and metrical science)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A chart listing eight bandha names with small emblem diagrams: wheel (cakra), lotus (abjaka), staff (daṇḍa), drum (muraja), alongside a grid showing alternating syllables per quarter-verse.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural look, a classroom-like scene with a guru pointing to a palm-leaf chart of bandha icons (wheel, lotus, staff, drum) and an alternating-akṣara grid, warm earthy tones, traditional setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central panel with gilded cakra and lotus motifs made of Sanskrit letters, side panels labeled daṇḍa and muraja, gold ornament borders, rich jewel colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, neat instructional board showing eight bandha headings and a worked example of ekāntara-samākṣara across pādas, fine lines, subdued palette, scholarly calm.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, an illuminated folio page with marginal diagrams of wheel/lotus/staff/drum bandhas and a metrical grid with alternating syllables, meticulous detail and calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चक्रञ्चक्राब्जकं = चक्रम् चक्र-अब्जकम्; मुरजाश्चेति = मुरजाः च इति; चाष्टधा = च अष्टधा; स्यादेकान्तरसमाक्षरा = स्यात् एक-अन्तर-सम-अक्षरा
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342 (bandha nomenclature and rules continuing in 342.38-342.40)
FAQs
It teaches chandas-vidyā (Sanskrit prosody): an eightfold set of named metrical pattern-types (e.g., Cakra, Abjaka, Daṇḍa, Muraja) and the rule that each half-verse and quarter-verse should maintain a regular alternating syllabic arrangement.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves technical literary science—how to classify and construct metres—showing it functions as a compendium that also trains readers in Sanskrit composition and poetic form.
Correct metre supports accurate recitation and faithful transmission of sacred and didactic texts; maintaining chandas is traditionally seen as aiding purity of speech (vāk-śuddhi) and preserving the intended power and meaning of verses.