Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 1
Chapter 327 — छन्दःसारः
Chandas-sāra: The Essence of Metres
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे देवालयमाहत्म्यादिर्नाम षड्विंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ सप्तविंशत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः छन्दःसारः अग्निर् उवाच छन्दो वक्ष्ये मूलजैस्तैः पिङ्गलोक्तं यथाक्रमम् सर्वादिमध्यान्तगणौ म्लौ द्वौ जौ स्तौ त्रिकौ गणाः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe devālayamāhatmyādirnāma ṣaḍviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha saptaviṃśatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ chandaḥsāraḥ agnir uvāca chando vakṣye mūlajaistaiḥ piṅgaloktaṃ yathākramam sarvādimadhyāntagaṇau mlau dvau jau stau trikau gaṇāḥ
Sa gayon, sa Agni Mahāpurāṇa nagtatapos ang ika-326 na kabanata na tinatawag na “Ang Kaluwalhatian at mga Kaugnay na Paksa ng mga Templo.” Ngayon ay nagsisimula ang ika-327 na kabanata, “Ang Diwa ng mga Sukat (Metre).” Wika ni Agni: “Ipapaliwanag ko ang prosodi ayon sa pagkakasunod, gaya ng itinuro ni Piṅgala, gamit ang mga saligang yunit ng pantig. Ang mga gaṇa (tatluhang metrikal) ay: ma at la; dalawang anyo ng ja; sa at ta; at ang tatlong anyo ng ka.”
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Prosody toolkit: learn gaṇa triads and their names (as per Piṅgala) to scan, compose, and verify Sanskrit metres in kavya and stotra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Gaṇa Classification in Chandas (Piṅgala System)","lookup_keywords":["chandas","pingala","gana","matra-triad","chandas-sara"],"quick_summary":"Introduces the prosody chapter and defines the basic gaṇa triads used to analyze metres, following Piṅgala’s chandas framework."}
Concept: Śāstra-paramparā: transmission of technical knowledge (Piṅgala’s prosody) as a disciplined auxiliary science for literature and ritual praise.
Application: Use gaṇa names to mark laghu/guru patterns quickly when composing or checking verses.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / Prosody)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as teacher begins a new chapter on prosody; a palm-leaf manuscript shows gaṇa symbols, while students mark laghu-guru patterns in rows of three syllables.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Agni-deva seated as guru with stylized flames, disciples with palm-leaf manuscripts, visible triad markings for gaṇas, temple-school ambience, earthy reds and yellows.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Agni as radiant teacher with gold leaf flames, manuscript labeled ‘Chandaḥsāra’, students holding stylus and palm leaves, ornate frame, scholastic-devotional mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional tableau: board/palm leaf showing gaṇa triads and names (ma, la, ja, sa, ta, ka), neat linework, classroom setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly with manuscripts, a central teacher with flame iconography, attendants writing, margins filled with metrical triad diagrams, refined courtly study scene."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye → iti + āgneye; devālayamāhatmyādirnāma → deva-ālaya-māhātmya-ādiḥ + nāma; 'dhyāyaḥ is adhyāyaḥ after avagraha; agnir uvāca → agniḥ + uvāca; chando vakṣye → chandaḥ + vakṣye; mūlajaistaiḥ → mūla-jaiḥ + taiḥ; piṅgaloktaṃ → piṅgala-uktam; yathākramam → yathā-kramam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 327 (Chandaḥsāra); Agni Purana later/related alamkāra-sāhitya sections (general)
FAQs
It introduces Chandas-vidyā (Sanskrit prosody), specifically the gaṇa system used to classify metres by triads of syllables, following the authority of Piṅgala.
It shifts from temple-mahātmya to a technical śāstra topic—Sanskrit metrics—showing the Purāṇa’s scope beyond ritual and mythology into linguistic and literary sciences.
Mastery of correct metre supports accurate recitation and composition of sacred and devotional texts; precise chandas is traditionally viewed as preserving the potency and purity of mantra-like utterance.