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
称賛に値する卓越、艶（kānti）、適切さ（aucitya）、簡潔、意味の充足（義の要するだけを言うこと）、そして明晰な顕現（澄んだ表現）—この六種の区分を、作詩・作文において常に生き生きと保つべきだと説かれる。
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.