Agni Purana — Chapter 345

AgP 345.1

:ए इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे अलङ्कारे शब्दर्थालङ्कारनिरूपणं नाम चतुश् चत्वारिंशदधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः ॥ छप्तेर् {३४५} :श् अथ पञ्चचत्वारिंशदधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः काव्यगुणविवेकः अग्निर् उवाच अलंकृतमपि प्रीत्यै न काव्यं निर्गुणं भवेत् वपुष्यललिते स्त्रीणां हारो भारायते परं

:e ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe alaṅkāre śabdarthālaṅkāranirūpaṇaṃ nāma catuś catvāriṃśadadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ || chapter {345} :ś atha pañcacatvāriṃśadadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ kāvyaguṇavivekaḥ agnir uvāca alaṃkṛtamapi prītyai na kāvyaṃ nirguṇaṃ bhavet vapuṣyalalite strīṇāṃ hāro bhārāyate paraṃ

Thus in the Āgneya Mahāpurāṇa, in (the section on) ornament, the three hundred forty-fourth chapter, called the exposition of the ornaments of word and sense. Chapter 345: Now the three hundred forty-fifth chapter, the discrimination of the poetic excellences. Agni said: Even if ornamented, a poem devoid of excellences will not give delight; on a body that is without charm, a necklace is for women only a burden.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AgP 345.2

न च वाच्यं गुणो दोषो भाव एव भविष्यति गुणाः श्लेषादयो दोषा गूडार्थाद्याः पृथक्कृताः

na ca vācyaṃ guṇo doṣo bhāva eva bhaviṣyati guṇāḥ śleṣādayo doṣā gūḍārthādyāḥ pṛthakkṛtāḥ

Nor should it be said that excellence and fault are merely (the presence and absence of) one and the same thing: the excellences, beginning with śleṣa, and the faults, beginning with obscurity of sense, are set down separately.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.3

यः काव्ये महतीं छायामनुगृह्णात्यसौ गुणैः सम्भवत्येष सामान्यो वैशेषिक इति द्विधा

yaḥ kāvye mahatīṃ chāyāmanugṛhṇātyasau guṇaiḥ sambhavatyeṣa sāmānyo vaiśeṣika iti dvidhā

That which imparts great lustre to a poem — that (is an excellence); this comes about through the excellences, and it is twofold: general and particular.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.4

सर्वसाधारणीभूतः सामन्य इति मन्यते शब्दमर्थमुभौ प्राप्तः सामान्यो भवति त्रिधा

sarvasādhāraṇībhūtaḥ sāmanya iti manyate śabdamarthamubhau prāptaḥ sāmānyo bhavati tridhā

What has become common to all is held to be 'general'; the general is threefold, as it attaches to word, to sense, or to both.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AgP 345.5

शब्दमाश्रयते काव्यं शरीरं यः स तद्गुणः :प् २२९ श्लोषो लालित्यागाम्भीर्यसौकुमार्यमुदारता

śabdamāśrayate kāvyaṃ śarīraṃ yaḥ sa tadguṇaḥ :p 229 śloṣo lālityāgāmbhīryasaukumāryamudāratā

That (excellence) which rests upon the word, the body of the poem, is an excellence of that (word): cohesion (śleṣa), gracefulness, profundity, delicacy, nobility,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AgP 345.6

सत्येव यौगिकी चेति गुणाः शब्दस्य सप्तधा सुश्लिष्टसन्निवेशत्वं शब्दानां श्लेष उच्यते

satyeva yaugikī ceti guṇāḥ śabdasya saptadhā suśliṣṭasanniveśatvaṃ śabdānāṃ śleṣa ucyate

truthfulness, and derivedness (from correct formation) — thus the excellences of the word are sevenfold. A well-knit arrangement of words is called śleṣa (cohesion).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.7

गुणादेशादिना पूर्वं पदसम्बद्धमक्षरं यत्रसन्धीयते नैव तल्लालित्यमुदाहृतं

guṇādeśādinā pūrvaṃ padasambaddhamakṣaraṃ yatrasandhīyate naiva tallālityamudāhṛtaṃ

Where a syllable joined to the preceding word is not combined (with it) by way of guṇa, substitution and the like, that is declared to be lālitya (gracefulness).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.8

विशिष्टलक्षणोल्लेखलेख्यमुत्तानशब्दकम् गाम्भीर्यं कथयन्त्यार्यास्तदेवान्येषु शब्दतां

viśiṣṭalakṣaṇollekhalekhyamuttānaśabdakam gāmbhīryaṃ kathayantyāryāstadevānyeṣu śabdatāṃ

That which is to be delineated by the marking out of distinctive characteristics, while its words lie open (on the surface), the noble ones call profundity; that very thing, in other (cases), is (mere) verbosity.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.9

अनिष्ठुराक्षरप्रायशब्दता सुकुमारता उत्तानपदतौदर्ययुतश्लाघ्यैर् विशेषणैः

aniṣṭhurākṣaraprāyaśabdatā sukumāratā uttānapadataudaryayutaślāghyair viśeṣaṇaiḥ

Having words made up mostly of unharsh syllables is delicacy. By plain words and by praiseworthy qualifiers joined with nobility (nobility arises).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.10

ओजः समासभूयस्त्वमेतत्पद्यादिजीवितं आब्रह्म स्तम्भपर्यन्तमोजसैकेन पौरुषं

ojaḥ samāsabhūyastvametatpadyādijīvitaṃ ābrahma stambhaparyantamojasaikena pauruṣaṃ

Ojas (vigour) is abundance of compounds; this is the life of verse and the rest. From Brahmā down to a post, manliness is by ojas alone.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.11

उच्यमानस्य शब्देन येन केनापि वस्तुनः उत्कर्षमावहन्नर्थो गुण इत्य् अभिधीयते

ucyamānasya śabdena yena kenāpi vastunaḥ utkarṣamāvahannartho guṇa ity abhidhīyate

A meaning that brings about the excellence of some thing or other that is being expressed by a word — that is called a "quality" (guṇa).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AgP 345.12

माधुर्यं सम्बिधानञ्च कोमलत्वमुदारता प्रौढिः सामयिकत्वञ्च तद्भेदाः षट्चकाशति

mādhuryaṃ sambidhānañca komalatvamudāratā prauḍhiḥ sāmayikatvañca tadbhedāḥ ṣaṭcakāśati

Sweetness (mādhurya), well-arrangement (sambidhāna), tenderness (komalatva), loftiness (udāratā), maturity (prauḍhi), and conventionality (sāmayikatva) — its six divisions shine forth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AgP 345.13

क्रोधेर्ष्याकारगाम्भीर्यात्माधुर्यं धैर्यगाहिता सम्बिधानं परिकरः स्यादपेक्षितसिद्धये

krodherṣyākāragāmbhīryātmādhuryaṃ dhairyagāhitā sambidhānaṃ parikaraḥ syādapekṣitasiddhaye

Sweetness is depth of form in anger and envy; firmness is profundity. Well-arrangement is the preparation that serves to accomplish what is required.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.14

यत्काठिन्यादिनिर्मुक्तसन्निवेशविशिष्टता तिरस्कृत्यैव मृदुता भाति कोमलतेति सा

yatkāṭhinyādinirmuktasanniveśaviśiṣṭatā tiraskṛtyaiva mṛdutā bhāti komalateti sā

That distinctive quality of composition which is free from harshness and the like, in which softness shines forth precisely by setting (harshness) aside — that is called tenderness.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.15

लक्ष्यते स्थूललक्षत्वप्रवृत्तेर्यत्र लक्षणम् गुणस्य तदुदारत्वमाशयस्यातिसौष्ठवं

lakṣyate sthūlalakṣatvapravṛtteryatra lakṣaṇam guṇasya tadudāratvamāśayasyātisauṣṭhavaṃ

Where the mark of the quality is discerned from the exercise of a large scope (of expression), that is loftiness — an eminent excellence of the underlying intent.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.16

अभिप्रेतं प्रति यतो निर्वाहस्योपपादिकाः युक्तयो हेतुगर्भिण्यः प्रौढाप्रौढिरुदाहृता

abhipretaṃ prati yato nirvāhasyopapādikāḥ yuktayo hetugarbhiṇyaḥ prauḍhāprauḍhirudāhṛtā

Since (in it) there are reasonings pregnant with grounds that bring about the carrying-through toward the intended (sense), (that) maturity, un-maturity, is instanced.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.17

:प् २३० स्वतन्त्रस्यान्यतन्त्रस्य वाह्यान्तःसमयोगतः तत्र व्युत्पत्तिरर्थस्य या सामयिकतेति सा

:p 230 svatantrasyānyatantrasya vāhyāntaḥsamayogataḥ tatra vyutpattirarthasya yā sāmayikateti sā

There, the elucidation of a sense — whether independent or dependent on something else — through connection with convention, external or internal: that is conventionality.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.18

शब्दार्थवुपकुर्वाणो नाम्नोभयगुणः स्मृतः तस्य प्रसादः सौभाग्यं यथासङ्ख्यं प्रशस्तता

śabdārthavupakurvāṇo nāmnobhayaguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ tasya prasādaḥ saubhāgyaṃ yathāsaṅkhyaṃ praśastatā

What assists both word and sense is held to be a quality of both by name; of it (there are) clarity (prasāda), felicity (saubhāgya), correspondence in order (yathāsaṅkhya), commendableness,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.19

पाको राग इति प्राज्ञैः षट्प्रपञ्चविपञ्चिताः सुप्रसिद्धर्थपदता प्रसाद इति गीयते

pāko rāga iti prājñaiḥ ṣaṭprapañcavipañcitāḥ suprasiddharthapadatā prasāda iti gīyate

ripeness (pāka), and coloring (rāga) — thus by the wise (these) six are spread out in detail. Having words of well-established sense is sung as clarity.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.20

उत्कर्षवान् गुणः कश्चिद्यस्मिन्नुक्ते प्रतीयते तत्सौभाग्यमुदारत्वं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः

utkarṣavān guṇaḥ kaścidyasminnukte pratīyate tatsaubhāgyamudāratvaṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ

When some excellent quality is understood in what has been stated, the discerning call that felicity, (i.e.) loftiness.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AgP 345.21

यथासङ्ख्यमनुद्देशः सामन्यमतिदिश्यते समये वर्णनीयस्य दारुणस्यापि वस्तुनः

yathāsaṅkhyamanuddeśaḥ sāmanyamatidiśyate samaye varṇanīyasya dāruṇasyāpi vastunaḥ

Correspondence in order is non-specification: the general is extended (to the particulars). By convention, even of a thing to be described that is harsh,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.22

अदारुणेन शब्देन प्राशस्त्यमुपवर्णनं उच्चैः परिणतिः कापि पाक इत्य् अभिधीयते

adāruṇena śabdena prāśastyamupavarṇanaṃ uccaiḥ pariṇatiḥ kāpi pāka ity abhidhīyate

the description of its commendableness with a word that is not harsh; and any lofty maturation — that is called ripeness.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.23

मृद्वीकानारिकेलाम्बुपाकभेदाच्चतुर्विधः आदावन्ते च सौरस्यं मृद्वीकापाक एव सः

mṛdvīkānārikelāmbupākabhedāccaturvidhaḥ ādāvante ca saurasyaṃ mṛdvīkāpāka eva saḥ

It is fourfold, by the division into the ripening of the grape, the coconut, and water (and one more); where there is savor both at the beginning and at the end, that is precisely the grape-ripening.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.24

काव्येच्छया विशेषो यः सराग इति गीयते अभ्यासोपहितः कान्तिं सहजामपि वर्तते

kāvyecchayā viśeṣo yaḥ sarāga iti gīyate abhyāsopahitaḥ kāntiṃ sahajāmapi vartate

That distinction (which arises) from the poet's wish is sung as "having coloring"; when accompanied by practice it continues (to produce) beauty, even innate beauty.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AgP 345.25

हारिद्रश् चैव कौसुम्भो नीली रागश् च स त्रिधा वैशेषिकः परिज्ञेयो यः स्वलक्षणगोचरः

hāridraś caiva kausumbho nīlī rāgaś ca sa tridhā vaiśeṣikaḥ parijñeyo yaḥ svalakṣaṇagocaraḥ

And that coloring is threefold: turmeric-like, safflower-like, and indigo. That which falls within its own definition is to be known as the special (kind).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain