Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 33
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
पञ्चभिश् च तथा षड्भिरधन्या परिकीर्तिता सप्तभिश् च तथा धन्या निष्फला परतो भवेत्
pañcabhiś ca tathā ṣaḍbhiradhanyā parikīrtitā saptabhiś ca tathā dhanyā niṣphalā parato bhavet
五音节的偈足（pāda），以及六音节的偈足，被宣说为“不兴盛”（不吉）。七音节的偈足则被宣说为“兴盛”（吉祥）。超过此数，便成“无果”（无效验）。
Lord Agni (instructing Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Chandas/akṣara-count used as a nimitta: judging auspiciousness of a metrical unit (pāda) by syllable-count for composition, recitation, or omen-based selection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Akṣara-saṅkhyā-nimitta in chandas: 5/6 inauspicious, 7 auspicious","lookup_keywords":["chandas","akṣara","pañca","ṣaṭ","sapta"],"quick_summary":"Five- and six-syllable units are marked inauspicious; seven-syllable is auspicious; counts beyond these are treated as non-result-bearing in this nimitta rule."}
Concept: Saṅkhyā (number) as a carrier of guṇa/phalita valuation; formal structure (meter) is linked to predicted outcome.
Application: When selecting/teaching short meters or composing brief pādas, prefer seven-syllable units for ‘śubha’ framing; avoid 5–6 if the context is omen-sensitive (initiation, blessing, naming).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas / Prosody and metrical classification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher of prosody points to a palm-leaf manuscript showing syllable counts; three columns labeled 5, 6 (inauspicious) and 7 (auspicious), with tally marks.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural palette, a guru with stylus and palm-leaf, large clear numerals rendered as tally marks (5,6,7) beside short pāda lines, calm scholastic setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold border, manuscript and stylus highlighted, the ‘7’ column adorned with auspicious symbols (śrī, lotus), 5 and 6 muted.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram-like composition: akṣara boxes, neat calligraphy, guru explaining to students seated in a row.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a kitabkhana scene: scholar, manuscript, marginal annotations indicating pañca/ṣaṭ adhanyā, sapta dhanyā, fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṣaḍbhiradhanyā → ṣaḍbhiḥ + adhanyā; pañcabhiś/saptabhiś → pañcabhiḥ/saptabhiḥ (visarga before ca).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-śāstra/Chandas portions listing meters and akṣara counts; Agni Purana Śakuna rules where number-count determines śubha/āśubha
FAQs
It gives a technical rule from Chandas (Sanskrit prosody): pādas/metrical units with 5 or 6 syllables are labeled inauspicious, 7 syllables auspicious, and counts beyond this are said to be ineffective for the intended metrical/ritual result.
Alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also codifies literary-technical disciplines like metrics (chandas), showing it functions as a compendium of practical shastric rules used in composing and evaluating Sanskrit verse.
Because Sanskrit composition is often tied to mantra, stotra, and merit-producing recitation, the verse frames certain syllable-count structures as auspicious (dhanyā) or inauspicious (adhanyā), implying that correct metrical form supports the desired spiritual ‘fruit’ (phala).