Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 61
अश्ववाहनसारः
Aśvavāhana-sāra) — Essentials of Horses as Mounts (and Horse-Treatment
पञ्चोलूखलिका कार्या गर्वितास्ते ऽतिकीर्तिताः संक्षिप्तञ्चैव विक्षिप्तं कुञ्चितञ्च यथाचितम्
pañcolūkhalikā kāryā garvitāste 'tikīrtitāḥ saṃkṣiptañcaiva vikṣiptaṃ kuñcitañca yathācitam
Five (types) called olūkhalikā are to be employed; among them, the garvitā is declared the most celebrated. The movements are: saṃkṣipta (contracted), vikṣipta (expanded), kuñcita (bent/curled), and the yathā-citam mode (as is appropriate).
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ते ऽतिकीर्तिताः = ते अति-कीर्तिताः. संक्षिप्तञ्चैव = संक्षिप्तम् च एव. कुञ्चितञ्च = कुञ्चितम् च. यथाचितम् = यथा-अचितम् (अव्ययीभाव).
FAQs
It teaches a technical classification used in Sanskrit poetics/prosody: the ‘olūkhalikā’ set (five modes), highlighting ‘garvitā’ as especially renowned and listing practical cadence-types such as contracted, expanded, and curled/bent movement.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves systematic knowledge of Sanskrit literary science (śāstra)—including named metrical or stylistic movements—showing its role as a compendium of cultural and technical disciplines.
While primarily technical, mastering correct chandas and poetic form supports accurate recitation and transmission of sacred and didactic texts, which traditional thought treats as meritorious (puṇya) through disciplined speech (vāk) and faithful preservation of śāstra.