Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 39
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
अर्धाभ्यामर्धपादैश् च कुर्याद्विन्यासमेतयोः जानुबन्धमिति क , ख च न्यस्तानामिह वर्णानामधोधः क्रमभागिनां
ardhābhyāmardhapādaiś ca kuryādvinyāsametayoḥ jānubandhamiti ka , kha ca nyastānāmiha varṇānāmadhodhaḥ kramabhāgināṃ
การวางผังของทั้งสองนี้พึงทำด้วยสองครึ่ง และด้วยครึ่งบาท ในที่นี้อักษร ‘ก’ และ ‘ข’ เรียกว่า ‘ชานุพันธะ’ คือข้อเข่า และอักษรที่วางตามลำดับนั้นให้จัดเรียงลดหลั่นลงไปด้านล่างทีละขั้น
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Executing the vinyāsa (placement) algorithm for bandha verses using half-verses/half-lines, with designated pivot letters (ka, kha) as joints and a descending sequence placement rule.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vinyāsa Method with Jānubandha (ka-kha) and Descending Sequence Placement","lookup_keywords":["vinyāsa","jānubandha","ka kha","varṇa-krama","adhodhaḥ"],"quick_summary":"Arrange the bandha using halves and half-pādas; treat ‘ka’ and ‘kha’ as the knee-joint pivots. Place subsequent letters according to sequence, stepping progressively downward (descending order) in the layout."}
Alamkara Type: Citra (Bandha-kāvya)
Concept: Rule-governed construction: complex aesthetic forms arise from simple operations (pivot + ordered descent).
Application: Use ka/kha as fixed anchors while drafting; verify that each placed akṣara follows the intended krama and vertical descent to maintain bandha integrity.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas/Varna-vinyasa and prosodic-phonetic arrangement)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic grid where ‘ka’ and ‘kha’ are marked as knee-joints; arrows show letters being placed in descending steps across half-verses and half-pādas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized diagram on palm-leaf with highlighted ‘ka’ and ‘kha’ nodes, arrows descending through a varṇa sequence, guru demonstrating to students in a traditional hall.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted ‘ka’ and ‘kha’ as central pivots on a decorative grid, descending akṣaras arranged with ornate borders, manuscript tools at the bottom.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, crisp instructional chart: labeled jānubandha points (ka, kha), stepwise downward placement arrows, neat calligraphy and measured spacing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar’s desk with a ruled grid page; ka/kha emphasized in red ink, descending sequence in black, fine marginal notes and precise geometry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्धाभ्यामर्धपादैश् = अर्धाभ्याम् अर्ध-पादैः; कुर्याद्विन्यासम् = कुर्यात् विन्यासम्; विन्यासमेतयोः = विन्यासम् एतयोः; जानुबन्धमिति = जानु-बन्धम् इति; न्यस्तानामिह = न्यस्तानाम् इह; वर्णानामधोधः = वर्णानाम् अधोधः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.40 (continuation: movement to fourth quarter and retrograde ascent)
FAQs
It teaches a technical rule of vinyāsa—how to place/arrange letters and segments (by halves or half-lines), identifying a ‘joint’ point (jānubandha) at ka–kha and prescribing a descending sequential placement.
Beyond mythology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa preserves specialist śāstra material—here, formal rules of phonetic/prosodic arrangement and technical nomenclature—showing its coverage of linguistic sciences alongside dharma, worship, and other disciplines.
By standardizing correct textual/phonetic arrangement, it supports accurate preservation and recitation of śāstric material—traditionally regarded as essential for maintaining the integrity and merit (puṇya) of learned transmission.