Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 58
Chapter 342: शब्दालङ्काराः
Verbal/Sound-based Ornaments
समौ तुर्यं पञ्चमन्तु क्रमेण विनियोजयेत् तुर्यौ योज्यौ तु तद्वच्च दलान्ताः क्रमपादयोः
samau turyaṃ pañcamantu krameṇa viniyojayet turyau yojyau tu tadvacca dalāntāḥ kramapādayoḥ
Theo thứ tự, nên phân định các âm tiết chẵn làm đơn vị thứ tư và thứ năm. Cũng vậy, hai đơn vị thứ tư cần được nối lại; và các nửa câu (dala) được đặt ở phần cuối, theo trình tự, trong hai pāda (khổ/nhịp).
Lord Agni (teaching to Vasiṣṭha in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Mātrā/vṛtta-yojanā: even-count units are assigned to 4th/5th positions in order; joining two ‘fourth-units’ and placing dalas at ends guides composition and scansion of pādas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Turyapañcama-viniyoga & dala-anta-nyāsa (mātrā-krama)","lookup_keywords":["turya","pañcama","viniyoga","dala-anta","pāda-krama"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a stepwise method to place specific units (4th, 5th) based on even counts, then join two fourth-units and set half-line boundaries at the ends of pādas. It functions as a construction rule for a particular metrical pattern."}
Concept: krama-vidhi—niyata-sthāna-vinyāsena rūpa-siddhiḥ (metrical form arises from ordered placement)
Application: Chandas-śikṣāyāṃ ‘unit placement’ (turya/pāñcama) niyamān anusṛtya pāda-racanā; scansion drills for students.
Khanda Section: Chandas & Prosody (Sanskrit Metrics / Pingala-style Matra-Vritta)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A step-by-step metrical construction diagram: numbered syllable/mātrā slots, with the 4th and 5th units highlighted; two 4th-units are bracketed together; dala boundaries marked at pāda ends.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized instructional panel with highlighted 4th/5th slots in a banded meter diagram, guru demonstrating with a pointer, earthy tones and bold contours.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on highlighted metrical brackets, ornate manuscript diagram showing turya-pañcama placement, devotional scholarly setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear pedagogic chart with numbered mātrā positions, soft colors, precise brackets showing two turyas joined, calm classroom scene.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, meticulous diagram on paper with red/blue highlights for 4th and 5th units, scholars discussing, fine border illumination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Raga Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पञ्चमन्तु → पञ्चमम् तु; तद्वच्च → तद्वत् च; दलान्ताः → दल-अन्ताः; क्रमपादयोः → क्रम-पादयोः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 342.56–57 (sāmya rules); Agni Purana 342.59 (Muraja scanning)
FAQs
It gives a technical prosodic rule for arranging metrical units: how to assign the 4th and 5th units in sequence, how two 4th-units may be combined, and how to place the dala (half-line segmentation) at pāda-endings.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves formal Sanskrit knowledge systems—here, chandas (metrics). Such prescriptive rules show the text functioning as a handbook for literary composition and grammatical-scientific analysis alongside dharma and worship.
Correct chandas is traditionally viewed as preserving the integrity and efficacy of sacred speech; accurate metrical arrangement supports error-free recitation and transmission, which is treated as meritorious and purifying in the broader Sanskrit tradition.