Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 62
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
द्वितीयं चक्रशार्दूलविक्रीडितकसम्पदम् गोमूत्रिका सर्ववृत्तैर् अन्ये बन्धास्त्वनुष्टुभा
dvitīyaṃ cakraśārdūlavikrīḍitakasampadam gomūtrikā sarvavṛttair anye bandhāstvanuṣṭubhā
இரண்டாவது பந்தம் ‘சக்ர–சார்தூல–விக்ரீடிதக–சம்பத்’ எனப் பெயர்பெற்றது. ‘கோமூத்ரிகா’ எல்லா வൃത്തங்களாலும் (சந்தங்களாலும்) அமைக்கலாம்; மற்ற பந்தங்கள் அனுஷ்டுப் சந்தத்திலேயே.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"Cataloging and selecting bandha-patterns and metres (vṛtta) for composing citra-kāvya and for performance/recitation planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Bandha patterns: Cakra–Śārdūla–Vikrīḍitaka–Sampad; Gomūtrikā; Anuṣṭubh constraint","lookup_keywords":["cakra-bandha","śārdūlavikrīḍita","gomūtrikā","anuṣṭubh","bandha"],"quick_summary":"Names a second composite bandha-pattern and notes that Gomūtrikā can be executed with any metre, while other bandhas are typically composed in Anuṣṭubh."}
Concept: Systematization of artistic forms through named patterns and rule-based constraints.
Application: Choose Gomūtrikā when metre-flexibility is needed; default to Anuṣṭubh for other bandha compositions unless a specific vṛtta is prescribed.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas and Kavya-metrics)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teaching board shows multiple named bandha-diagrams: a wheel (cakra), a tiger-like dynamic layout labeled Śārdūlavikrīḍita, and a zig-zag ‘gomūtrikā’ path across syllables; Anuṣṭubh is marked as the default metre.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru instructing disciples, wall panel with cakra diagram and gomūtrikā zig-zag of akṣaras, bold outlines, traditional classroom in a temple corridor.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate gold frame around a central cakra-bandha diagram, side panels with gomūtrikā path, rich textile patterns, stylus and manuscript emphasized with gold accents.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate, clean labeled diagrams of cakra and gomūtrikā, annotations ‘sarva-vṛttaiḥ’ and ‘anuṣṭubhā’, delicate shading and precise calligraphy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a literary salon, scholars comparing illustrated bandha charts, detailed circular cakra and zig-zag gomūtrikā on paper, fine borders and floral margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Raga Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bandhāstvanuṣṭubhā = bandhāḥ tu anuṣṭubhā. sarvavṛttair = sarva-vṛttaiḥ (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342 (bandha-prakaraṇa; vṛtta-nāma and prastāra context)
FAQs
It teaches technical knowledge of Sanskrit prosody and figure-poetry (bandha): naming specific bandha/metre-patterns and stating which metres are used—especially that Gomūtrikā can be composed in any metre, while other bandhas are in Anuṣṭubh.
Alongside ritual, polity, and medicine, the Agni Purana also codifies literary science (sāhitya-śāstra). This verse exemplifies that breadth by cataloging sophisticated poetic structures (bandhas) and their metrical constraints.
Indirectly, it supports dharmic merit by enabling accurate preservation and transmission of sacred and classical texts: correct metre and structured composition are treated as essential disciplines for maintaining śāstra and devotional literature.