Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 60
Āgneya-Purāṇa-māhātmya
The Greatness and Self-Testimony of the Agni Purāṇa
गान्धर्ववेदो ऽर्थशास्त्रं मीमांसा न्यायविस्तरः पुराणसंख्यामाहत्म्यं छन्दो व्यकरणं स्मृतं
gāndharvavedo 'rthaśāstraṃ mīmāṃsā nyāyavistaraḥ purāṇasaṃkhyāmāhatmyaṃ chando vyakaraṇaṃ smṛtaṃ
گاندھرو وید، ارتھ شاستر، میمانسا، نیائے کا وسیع نظام، پرانوں کی تعداد و ماہاتمیہ، چھند اور ویاکرن—یہ سب بھی علم کی شاخیں سمجھی گئی ہیں۔
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Curriculum-mapping of śāstric disciplines: identifying which auxiliary sciences to consult for music/performance (Gāndharva), polity (Arthaśāstra), ritual exegesis (Mīmāṃsā), logic (Nyāya), Purāṇa study, prosody (Chandas), and grammar (Vyākaraṇa) when composing, interpreting, or teaching texts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śāstra-saṅgraha: Gāndharvaveda–Arthaśāstra–Mīmāṃsā–Nyāya–Purāṇa–Chandas–Vyākaraṇa","lookup_keywords":["Gandharvaveda","Arthashastra","Mimamsa","Nyaya","Chandas Vyakarana"],"quick_summary":"A catalog of key knowledge-systems supporting śāstra and kāvya: performance arts, statecraft, Vedic interpretation, logic, Purāṇa tradition, metrics, and grammar—used as reference domains for study and composition."}
Concept: Auxiliary and applied knowledge-systems (śāstras) as supports for right understanding and practice.
Application: Use as a study-plan: grammar+prosody for textual mastery; logic for debate; mīmāṃsā for ritual meaning; arthaśāstra for governance; gāndharva for performance.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vedanga, Shastra-sangraha / Encyclopedic disciplines)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traditional gurukula or sabhā where a teacher points to a palm-leaf catalog listing Gāndharvaveda, Arthaśāstra, Mīmāṃsā, Nyāya, Purāṇa, Chandas, and Vyākaraṇa; students hold manuscripts and instruments (vīṇā) symbolizing disciplines.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a guru in white dhoti teaching from palm-leaf manuscripts, icons representing vīṇā (Gāndharva), scales/coins (Arthaśāstra), debate gestures (Nyāya), metrical marks (Chandas), grammar sutra scroll (Vyākaraṇa), ornate yet flat mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf accents, central seated ācārya with halo-like aureole, surrounding symbolic panels: vīṇā, royal throne and ledger, ritual fire and commentary scroll, debating scholars, Purāṇa manuscript, metrical grid, Pāṇini-like grammar scroll; rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional tableau: labeled objects for each śāstra, students writing on palm leaves, subtle background of library shelves; muted colors and delicate shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly library scene with scholars, one holding a vīṇā, another a statecraft manual, others debating; detailed textiles, architectural arches, marginal notes naming the disciplines"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गान्धर्ववेदोऽर्थशास्त्रम् = गान्धर्ववेदः + अर्थशास्त्रम् (विसर्ग-लोपः ‘ऽ’).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 382 (Vidya-saṅgraha / Sahitya-śāstra section)
FAQs
It catalogs key śāstras/vidyās—music (Gāndharvaveda), governance (Arthaśāstra), Vedic interpretation (Mīmāṃsā), logic (Nyāya), Purāṇic classification and praise (saṃkhyā–māhātmya), and the Vedāṅga tools of metre (Chandas) and grammar (Vyākaraṇa).
By explicitly listing multiple knowledge-systems spanning arts, polity, philosophy, and linguistic sciences, it frames the Agni Purāṇa as a compendium that preserves and indexes diverse classical disciplines rather than focusing on a single ritual or theological theme.
The verse presents these disciplines as recognized, authoritative bodies of knowledge (smṛta), implying that disciplined study—especially of Vedic interpretation, logic, and sacred literature—supports right understanding (samyag-jñāna) and thus steadies dharma-oriented action.