Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 19
Chapter 336 — काव्यादिलक्षणम्
Definitions of Poetry and Related Arts
समाप्यते तयोर् नाद्या सा कथामनुधावति कथाख्यायिकयोर्मिश्रभावात् परिकथा स्मृता
samāpyate tayor nādyā sā kathāmanudhāvati kathākhyāyikayormiśrabhāvāt parikathā smṛtā
ఆ రెండింటిలో మొదటి కథ ముగిసిన తరువాత రెండవది కథా ప్రవాహాన్నే అనుసరిస్తుంది. కథ మరియు ఆఖ్యాయికల మిశ్ర స్వభావం వల్ల దానిని ‘పరికథ’ అని స్మరిస్తారు.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":null,"practical_application":"Identifying and composing the mixed narrative genre parikathā by sequencing two narrative modes (kathā and ākhyāyikā) with a defined transition rule.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Parikathā as a mixed form of Kathā and Ākhyāyikā","lookup_keywords":["parikathā","kathā","ākhyāyikā","miśrabhāva","narrative genre"],"quick_summary":"Parikathā is defined as a hybrid genre where, after the first of the two narrative modes concludes, the subsequent narration proceeds in the manner of kathā; it is recognized by its mixed construction."}
Concept: Literary forms are knowable by lakṣaṇa (defining marks) and by procedural sequencing (how one segment follows another).
Application: For writers/teachers: design a parikathā by deliberately blending ākhyāyikā elements with kathā-style continuation after the first segment ends.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya–katha-prakarana: narrative genres and definitions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript scene showing two narrative streams: the first ends, and the second begins in kathā style; scribes and storytellers indicate the mixed genre parikathā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, storyteller (kathaka) gesturing to two scroll panels; first panel concludes, second continues; clear visual transition, warm earthy palette, scholarly ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate manuscript and stylus, two framed story vignettes with gold borders; a narrator points from the completed vignette to the continuing kathā vignette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic diagram-like composition: two narrative blocks labeled ākhyāyikā and kathā blending into parikathā; fine lines, soft colors, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court librarian and munshi with illustrated folios; one folio closed (completed), another open (continuing), delicate marginalia suggesting genre mixture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तयोर् = तयोः + (र्-आदेशः); कथामनुधावति = कथाम् + अनुधावति; कथाख्यायिकयोः = कथा + आख्यायिकयोः (स्वर-सन्धि); कथākhyāyikayor = ... + योः; मिश्रभावात् = मिश्रभावात् (समास)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 336 (kathā-prakaraṇa: genre definitions around kathā/ākhyāyikā/parikathā)
FAQs
This verse imparts Sahitya-shastra (literary science) knowledge: it defines parikathā as a narrative form produced by mixing kathā and ākhyāyikā, where the subsequent narration proceeds in the manner of a kathā after the first concludes.
By codifying fine-grained literary categories (kathā, ākhyāyikā, parikathā), the Agni Purana functions as a reference manual not only for dharma and ritual but also for classical Sanskrit aesthetics and narrative theory.
While primarily technical, the instruction supports dharmic transmission: correct genre-knowledge helps preserve and communicate sacred and ethical narratives accurately, strengthening śravaṇa (listening) and smṛti (remembered tradition).