Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 50
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
स्यात्पादार्धचतुष्कन्तु नाभौ तस्याद्यमक्षरं पश्चिमारावधि नयेन्नेमौ शेषे पदद्वयी
syātpādārdhacatuṣkantu nābhau tasyādyamakṣaraṃ paścimārāvadhi nayennemau śeṣe padadvayī
சந்தத்தில் நான்கு பாதங்கள் இருந்தால், ‘நாபி’ (மையச் சங்கமம்)யில் அதன் முதல் எழுத்தை எடுத்துக் கொண்டு, பிரிவை மேற்குப் எல்லை வரை கொண்டு செல்ல வேண்டும். மீதமுள்ள பகுதியில் இரண்டு பாதங்கள் (நிறுவுதற்காக) தனியாக விடப்படும்.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Method for pāda-vibhāga (quartering) and akṣara-indexing in metrical analysis: identify the initial syllable at the central ‘navel’ point and extend division to a defined boundary, leaving the remaining two pādas as a separate segment for scanning/diagramming.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pada-vibhāga in chandas: navel (nābhi) anchoring and western-boundary division","lookup_keywords":["pāda-vibhāga","nābhi akṣara","chandas scanning","western boundary","four pādas"],"quick_summary":"For a four-pāda verse, anchor the first syllable at the central junction (nābhi), carry the division to the western limit in the scheme, and treat what remains as the other two pādas—supporting consistent metrical mapping."}
Concept: Correct segmentation (vibhāga) yields correct knowledge (pramā) in technical disciplines like chandas.
Application: When teaching or scanning, fix a consistent anchor-point (nābhi) and boundary convention to avoid miscounting pādas/akṣaras.
Khanda Section: Chandas & Prosody (Sanskrit Metrics / Pada-vibhaga)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prosody diagram showing a central ‘navel’ point labeled with the first syllable, a line or arc extending to a ‘western boundary’, and the remaining space marked as two remaining pādas—like a layout for metrical partitioning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural teaching tableau: guru draws a segmented verse-diagram with a central nābhi point and west boundary marker, students watching, earthy reds and greens, clear labels","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style didactic composition: ornate frame, gold-highlighted central nābhi medallion, directional west marker, pāda blocks separated, palm-leaf manuscript and stylus depicted","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean schematic with labeled nābhi and west boundary, four pāda blocks indicated, minimal background, emphasis on clarity and line precision","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a poet-scholar annotating a metrical partition diagram on a folio, central anchor point emphasized, west boundary noted in calligraphy, refined indoor setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यात्पादार्धचतुष्कम् = स्यात् + पादार्धचतुष्कम्; तस्याद्यमक्षरम् = तस्य + आद्यम् + अक्षरम्; पश्चिमारावधि = पश्चिम-अर-आवधि; नयेन्नेमौ = नयेत् + इमौ (त् + इ → न्नि/न्ने).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.48 (cakra-based chandas rules); Agni Purana 342 (prosody subsection continuing)
FAQs
It teaches a technical rule of chandas (prosody): how to locate the central junction (“nābhi”) and perform pāda/half divisions when handling a four-pāda verse.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves systematic instruction in Sanskrit textual sciences—here, practical metrical segmentation used in recitation, composition, and manuscript pedagogy.
Correct scansion and division support accurate recitation and preservation of sacred and learned texts, which traditional dharma literature treats as a form of merit through faithful transmission (śruti-smṛti-pālana).