Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 2
Chapter 344: Ornaments of Word-and-Meaning (शब्दार्थालङ्काराः)
प्रशस्तिः कान्तिरौचित्यं संक्षेपो यावदर्थता अभिव्यक्तिरिति व्यक्तं षड्भेदास्तस्य जाग्रति
praśastiḥ kāntiraucityaṃ saṃkṣepo yāvadarthatā abhivyaktiriti vyaktaṃ ṣaḍbhedāstasya jāgrati
प्रशस्ति, कान्ति, औचित्य, संक्षेप, यावदर्थता (अर्थ जितना अपेक्षित हो उतना ही कहना) और अभिव्यक्ति (स्पष्ट प्रकाशन)—ये उसके छह भेद हैं, जिन्हें रचना में सदा जाग्रत रखना चाहिए।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s didactic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"A checklist of six compositional excellences to maintain in writing/speech—useful for editing poetry, prose, praise, and performance scripts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Six compositional excellences (praśasti, kānti, aucitya, saṅkṣepa, yāvadarthatā, abhivyakti)","lookup_keywords":["praśasti","aucitya","saṅkṣepa","yāvadarthatā","abhivyakti"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates six qualities to keep ‘awake’ in composition: excellence, charm, propriety, brevity, adequacy-to-meaning, and clarity. Practical as an editorial rubric for kāvya and discourse."}
Concept: Discipline of expression: beauty and effectiveness arise from propriety, measured brevity, and clear manifestation aligned to intended meaning.
Application: Use as a six-point revision pass: (1) is it praiseworthy, (2) charming, (3) appropriate to context/rasa/speaker, (4) concise, (5) says exactly what is needed, (6) unmistakably clear.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya-śāstra / Alaṅkāra and literary theory)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A poet-scribe revises a manuscript with six headings written on a board; each quality is symbolized (lamp for clarity, scale for propriety, trimmed vine for brevity).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scribe and guru in a learning hall, six Sanskrit terms painted in panels, symbolic icons (lamp, scale, garland), earthy tones and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, six gilded medallions around a central manuscript, each medallion labeled with one quality, gold-leaf highlights, rich temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional chart aesthetic: neat columns listing the six qualities with small illustrative vignettes, fine lines, subdued colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with calligraphers, a supervisor pointing to a checklist of six terms, detailed stationery and inkpots, refined borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kāntiḥ + aucityam → kāntir aucityam; abhivyaktiḥ + iti → abhivyaktir iti; ṣaṭ + bhedāḥ + tasya → ṣaḍbhedāstasya (t/d sandhi and visarga loss).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 344.3 (praśasti subdivision); Agni Purana 343–344 (alaṅkāra taxonomy across chapters)
FAQs
It imparts Sahitya-śāstra (kāvya theory): six practical criteria for effective composition—excellence, charm, appropriateness, concision, semantic sufficiency, and lucid expression.
Alongside ritual, dharma, polity, medicine, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also codifies literary theory; this verse shows it teaching technical standards of Sanskrit composition as part of its multi-disciplinary scope.
By promoting truthful, appropriate, and clear speech, it supports dharmic communication—speech that avoids excess, confusion, and impropriety—thereby aligning expression with ethical and spiritually beneficial conduct.