Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 59
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
अर्धयोरन्तिमाद्यौ तु मुरजे सदृशावभौ पादार्धपतितो वर्णः प्रातिलोम्यानुलोमतः
ardhayorantimādyau tu muraje sadṛśāvabhau pādārdhapatito varṇaḥ prātilomyānulomataḥ
‘మురజ’ ఛందస్సులో పూర్వార్ధంలోని చివరి వర్ణం మరియు ఉత్తరార్ధంలోని మొదటి వర్ణం సదృశములు. పాద మధ్యంలో పడే వర్ణాన్ని ప్రాతిలోమ్యము మరియు అనులోమము—రెండు విధాలుగా పరిశీలించి నిర్ణయించాలి.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Muraja-nāma vṛtta-parīkṣā: ardha-sandhi-sthāne (pūrvārdhānta/uttarārdhādi) varṇa-sāmyaṃ jñātvā chandas-śuddhiṃ rakṣati; madhya-varṇaṃ anuloma-prātiloma-gaṇanayā nirṇīyate.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Muraja-vṛtta: ardha-sandhi-sāmya & anuloma-prātiloma-gaṇanā","lookup_keywords":["Muraja","ardhānta-ādi-sāmya","prātilomya","anuloma","pāda-madhya"],"quick_summary":"In Muraja metre, the last syllable of the first half and the first syllable of the second half must match. The mid-pāda syllable is verified by scanning both backward and forward to avoid miscounting."}
Concept: dvi-mārga-parīkṣā (anuloma-prātiloma) satyatā-sādhikā—niścayaḥ dvipakṣa-gaṇanayā dṛḍhībhavati
Application: Chandas-adhyayanī madhya-sthāna-bhrāntiṃ nivārayituṃ pādaṃ ubhayataḥ gaṇayet; Muraja-racanāyāṃ ardha-sandhi-sāmyaṃ avasyam rakṣet.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / Prosody and metrical phonetics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript page titled ‘Muraja’ shows two halves of a pāda; the junction syllables are circled as identical; arrows indicate forward (anuloma) and reverse (prātiloma) scanning toward the midpoint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, bold arrows in opposite directions over a stylized pāda band, junction syllables highlighted, guru explaining ‘anuloma-prātiloma’, warm palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted circles on junction syllables, ornate manuscript labeled Muraja, scholarly devotional ambience, rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional arrows forward/backward, midpoint marked, teacher and students, fine detailing suitable for technical explanation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, precise calligraphic syllables with red circles at the junction, two arrows (forward/back), scholars debating scansion, detailed margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्धयोरन्तिमाद्यौ → अर्धयोः अन्तिमाद्यौ; सदृशावभौ → सदृशौ उभौ; पादार्धपतितो → पादार्धपतितः; प्रातिलोम्यानुलोमतः → प्रातिलोम्य-अनुलोमतः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.56–58 (sāmya/krama rules); Agni Purana 342.60 (nyāsa/bandhana—terminology overlap: ‘bandhana’ vs ‘sandhi’)
FAQs
It teaches a prosodic rule for the Muraja metre: the boundary syllables of the two halves correspond, and the midpoint syllable of a pāda may be confirmed by scanning both forward (anuloma) and backward (prātilomya).
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves technical Śāstra material—here, chandas (metrics)—showing it functions as a compendium that includes linguistic and literary sciences used for composing and verifying Sanskrit verse.
By ensuring correct metre and recitation structure, it supports accurate transmission of sacred and learned texts; in traditional understanding, such correctness safeguards the intended efficacy (śabda-śakti) of hymns and teachings.