Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 5
Chapter 229 — शकुनानि (Śakuna: Omens)
एहीति पुरतः शब्दः शस्यते न तु पृष्ठतः गच्छेति पश्चाच्छब्दो ऽग्र्यः पुरस्तात्तु विगर्हितः
ehīti purataḥ śabdaḥ śasyate na tu pṛṣṭhataḥ gaccheti paścācchabdo 'gryaḥ purastāttu vigarhitaḥ
The expression “come” (ehīti) is commended when addressed to one who is in front, not to one who is behind. The expression “go” (gaccheti) is the proper word for one who is behind; but to say “go” to one who is in front is censured.
Lord Agni (instructional narration in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic sections on language/poetics)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Guidance for context-appropriate address (yogyatā) in dialogue—choosing verbs like “come/go” according to spatial relation to avoid impropriety in speech.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Yogyatā in Śabda-prayoga: Proper use of “ehi/gaccha”","lookup_keywords":["śabda-prayoga","yogyatā","ehi","gaccha","ucita-vākya"],"quick_summary":"Use “ehi/come” for someone in front (within one’s forward address) and “gaccha/go” for someone behind; reversing these is censured as improper usage."}
Concept: Aucitya (contextual propriety) as a criterion of correct speech and refined conduct.
Application: In teaching, courtly speech, drama, and daily conversation, align utterance with situation (deśa-kāla-pātra) to avoid doṣa (fault).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Grammar & Usage: Shabda-prayoga and propriety in speech)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher instructs a student on correct address: one person stands in front and another behind; speech bubbles show “ehi” directed forward and “gaccha” directed backward, with the incorrect pair marked as censured.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, gurukula veranda, acharya with palm-leaf manuscript teaching two disciples positioned front and back, subtle hand gestures indicating direction, Sanskrit words ‘एहि’ and ‘गच्छ’ in decorative script, earthy reds and greens, temple-mural flat shading.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated acharya with halo-like aureole, gold-leaf accents on manuscript and borders, two disciples placed foreground and background to show spatial propriety, inscriptions ‘एहि’ (front) and ‘गच्छ’ (back), rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft washes, instructional diagram-like composition with arrows indicating front/back, acharya pointing, minimal background, legible Devanagari labels for correct/incorrect usage.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly classroom scene with precise perspective, teacher and students in patterned textiles, directional cues via gestures, calligraphic cartouches containing ‘एहि’ and ‘गच्छ’, fine detailing and muted palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एहीति = एहि + इति; गच्छेति = गच्छ + इति; पश्चाच्छब्दः = पश्चात् + शब्दः (त् + श → च्छ); शब्दोऽग्र्यः = शब्दः + अग्र्यः (visarga sandhi); पुरस्तात्तु = पुरस्तात् + तु (त् + त → त्त).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 229 (Sāhitya-śāstra: śabda-doṣa/aucitya context)
FAQs
It teaches shabda-prayoga (technical propriety in word-choice): use “ehi/come” for someone ahead, and “gaccha/go” for someone behind; reversing the context is considered improper.
Beyond ritual and theology, the Agni Purana also codifies practical norms of cultured speech and literary-grammatical correctness, showing its coverage of language sciences (sahitya/grammar) alongside other disciplines.
Cultivating correct and considerate speech is treated as a form of dharmic discipline: precise, context-appropriate words reduce offense and promote social harmony, supporting punya through right conduct (sadācāra).