Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 11
Chapter 336 — काव्यादिलक्षणम्
Definitions of Poetry and Related Arts
भवेन्मध्यमसन्दर्भन्नातिकुत्सितविग्रहम् वृत्तच्छायाहरं वृत्तं गन्धिनैतत् किलोत्कटम्
bhavenmadhyamasandarbhannātikutsitavigraham vṛttacchāyāharaṃ vṛttaṃ gandhinaitat kilotkaṭam
سندربھ کی پیوستگی معتدل ہو اور وِگرہ حد سے زیادہ معیوب نہ ہو۔ جو بحر/چھند کسی دوسری بحر کی ‘چھایا’ (آہنگ و مزاج) چھین لے، وہ ‘گندھی’ (ملوث/مخلوط) کہلاتا ہے؛ اور اسی کو سخت عیب سمجھا گیا ہے۔
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic topics, here poetic metrics/poetics)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Maintain moderate syntactic cohesion and avoid faulty construction; in metrics, avoid 'shadow-stealing' (mixing cadences) that produces gandhin defect in verse.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Gandhin dosa: metre tainted by another metre’s cadence","lookup_keywords":["gandhin","vritta-dosha","vritta-chhaya","sandarbh","vigraha"],"quick_summary":"Good composition keeps linkage moderate and avoids structural faults; a metre that borrows the characteristic cadence of another is labeled gandhin (tainted), treated as a serious defect in prosody."}
Concept: Integrity of form: each metre and composition has its own lakshana; mixing that obscures identity is a dosa.
Application: In versification, verify gana/pada patterns so the intended metre’s cadence is preserved; in prose/verse, keep cohesion balanced and grammar sound.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Chandas and poetic composition)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A prosody teacher shows two metrical patterns on a board; one verse line visibly 'borrows' the cadence of another, marked as gandhin defect; students correct the pattern.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, acharya with palm-leaf and stylus, two rhythmic wave motifs representing two metres, a mixed wave labeled gandhī as a flaw, didactic temple-school ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted teaching board with metrical marks, teacher indicating the 'shadow' of another metre, ornate classroom setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional chart of two vritta patterns and a third mixed/tainted pattern labeled gandhin, fine lines and readable layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, madrasa-like setting, scholar demonstrating metrical scansion with inked marks, a corrected line beside a flawed mixed-cadence line, detailed faces and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भवेन्मध्यमसन्दर्भन् = bhavet + madhyama-sandarbham (final -t + m → nm); नातिकुत्सितविग्रहम् = na-ati-kutsita-vigraham; गन्धिनैतत् = gandhin + etad; किलोत्कटम् = kila + utkaṭam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 336.9-336.10 (prose modes and samasa density); Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra portions on chandas and doshas (adjacent verses in 336)
FAQs
It teaches a technical rule of Chandas/Kavya: a verse should maintain coherent, moderate composition and must not use a metre that imitates or borrows the defining cadence (‘chāyā’) of another metre, which is treated as a serious metrical fault.
By laying down standards for Sanskrit literary composition and prosody (vṛtta-lakṣaṇa and doṣa), it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a handbook not only of ritual and dharma but also of technical arts like poetics and metrics.
In a Purāṇic context, disciplined and correct recitation/composition supports clarity (śuddhi) of speech and intention; avoiding defective metre preserves the integrity of sacred and learned expression, which is treated as meritorious and conducive to auspicious results.