Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 5

Nāṭaka-nirūpaṇam

Exposition of Drama / Dramatic Genres and Plot-Structure

Devanagari script

सामान्यं सर्वविषयं शेषः क्वापि प्रवर्तते पूर्वरङ्गे निवृत्ते द्वौ देशकालावुभावपि

Transliteration

sāmānyaṃ sarvaviṣayaṃ śeṣaḥ kvāpi pravartate pūrvaraṅge nivṛtte dvau deśakālāvubhāvapi

Translation

‘సామాన్యము’ అన్ని విషయాలకు వర్తిస్తుంది; ‘శేషము’ అవసరమైన చోట వినియోగించబడుతుంది. పూర్వరంగం ముగిసిన తరువాత దేశము, కాలము—ఇవిరెండింటినీ కూడా నిర్దేశించాలి.

Word by Word

• सामान्यम्: the general (element)
• सामान्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; abstract noun

• सर्व-विषयम्: having all domains / pertaining to everything
• सर्व-विषयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुष (all + object/domain) qualifying 'सामान्यम्'

• शेषः: the remainder / residue
• शेषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• क्व: somewhere
• क्व: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; interrogative/indefinite adverb (स्थानवाचक)

• अपि: also / even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (समुच्चय/अपि-भाव)

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds / takes place
• प्रवर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पूर्व-रङ्गे: in the preliminary rite (pūrvaraṅga)
• पूर्व-रङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पूर्वः रङ्गः)

• निवृत्ते: when (it is) finished/ceased
• निवृत्ते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि√वृत् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; agreeing with 'पूर्वरङ्गे'

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; numeral adjective

• देश-कालौ: place and time
• देश-कालौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; pronoun/adjective

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (समुच्चय/अपि-भाव)

Speaker

Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्वापि = क्व + अपि; देशकालावुभावपि = देशकालौ + उभौ + अपि.

Characters & Entities

• Purvaraṅga
• Deśa
• Kāla
• Sāmānya
• Śeṣa

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It gives technical guidance from dramaturgy/poetics: apply general rules universally (sāmānya), supply residual rules where required (śeṣa), and after the pūrvaraṅga (preliminary performance-rite), explicitly state deśa (place) and kāla (time).

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves concise, sūtra-like definitions used in śāstric disciplines such as nāṭya/kāvya theory and grammatical reasoning (general vs. residual application), showing its wide scope as a compendium of applied knowledge.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By insisting on proper sequence (pūrvaraṅga) and correct contextual specification (place/time), it supports disciplined, orderly performance of sacred-cultural acts; such correctness is traditionally linked with producing the intended merit (puṇya) and avoiding ritual/performative defects.