Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 32
दूतस्य वाक् प्रदुष्टा सा पूर्वामजार्धनिन्दिता विभक्तैस्तस्य वाक्यान्तैर्विषर्निर्विषकालता
dūtasya vāk praduṣṭā sā pūrvāmajārdhaninditā vibhaktaistasya vākyāntairviṣarnirviṣakālatā
దూతుని వాక్యం దుష్టమైతే అది ‘పూర్వామజార్ధనిందితా’ అనే దోషంగా నిందింపబడుతుంది. అలాగే వాక్యాంతంలో పదవిభజన తప్పితే ‘విష–నిర్విష–కాలతా’ దోషం కలుగుతుంది—అంటే పదచ్ఛేదం, ఉచ్చారణకాల లోపం వల్ల ‘విషం’ను ‘నిర్విషం’గా లేదా విరుద్ధంగా మార్చడం.
Lord Agni (in dialogue framework to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Editing and training messengers/reciters to avoid meaning-destroying faults caused by wrong word-division (sandhi/vibhakti breaks) and ill-timed pauses.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Kāvya-doṣa: Pūrvāmajārdha-ninditā and Viṣa–nirviṣa–kālatā (faulty division/pausing)","lookup_keywords":["kavya-dosha","vakya-shuddhi","pada-vibhaga","viṣa-nirviṣa","dūta-vāk"],"quick_summary":"The verse defines two speech-faults: (1) a messenger’s utterance becoming blameworthy by a specific prior-half censure, and (2) catastrophic semantic reversal when sentence-endings are split or paused wrongly—like turning ‘poison’ into ‘non-poison’."}
Alamkara Type: Doṣa (vakya-doṣa / pada-doṣa)
Concept: Śabda-pramāda (carelessness in speech) causes artha-viparyaya (meaning inversion).
Application: In diplomacy, ritual recitation, and literature, enforce correct segmentation and pausing to preserve intended meaning.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya–dosha and vakya-shuddhi)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal messenger recites a message; scribes and poets point out a dangerous mis-division of words that flips meaning (poison vs non-poison).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, palace hall with a dūta speaking before a king, scholars gesturing to palm-leaf manuscript, highlighted split words showing ‘viṣa’ and ‘nirviṣa’, earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king on throne with gold ornamentation, messenger mid-speech, a learned poet holding manuscript, gold leaf accents on court décor, symbolic text panel showing corrected word-division","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional court scene, clear facial expressions of caution, a teacher pointing to syllable breaks on a manuscript, delicate lines and soft colors, emphasis on didactic correction","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed court assembly, messenger speaking, calligrapher illustrating word breaks, small cartouche showing ‘viṣa/nirviṣa’, fine textiles and architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: amajārdhaninditā → amajārdha-ninditā; vibhaktais tasya → vibhaktaiḥ tasya; vākyāntair viṣaḥ → vākyāntaiḥ viṣaḥ; viṣaḥ nirviṣakālatā → viṣaḥ nirviṣa-kālatā
Related Themes: Agni Purana 293 (Sāhitya-śāstra: kāvya-doṣa, vākya-śuddhi)
FAQs
It teaches kavya/communication technique: avoid named speech-defects in a messenger’s delivery—especially wrong splitting at sentence-endings that can invert meaning (e.g., ‘poison’ vs ‘non-poison’).
Beyond ritual and theology, it preserves applied sastra on language—poetics, semantics, and practical governance communication—showing the Purana’s coverage of refined literary-grammatical standards.
Truthful, precise speech is treated as dharmic conduct; avoiding misleading or corrupted wording prevents harm caused by miscommunication, especially in duties like diplomacy and royal messaging.