Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 7
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
सुखापह्नुतिः संरोधो बधो दशविथा च सा यद्भूतहितमत्यन्तं वचः सत्यस्य लक्षणं
sukhāpahnutiḥ saṃrodho badho daśavithā ca sā yadbhūtahitamatyantaṃ vacaḥ satyasya lakṣaṇaṃ
‘ಸತ್ಯವಚನ’ ಹತ್ತು ವಿಧವೆಂದು ಹೇಳಲಾಗಿದೆ—(ಅದರೊಳಗೆ) ಇತರರ ಸುಖವನ್ನು ಮುಚ್ಚಿಡುವುದು, ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ/ಅವರೋಧ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಷೇಧವೂ ಸೇರಿವೆ. ಭೂತಗಳೆಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಹಿತಕರವಾದ ವಚನವೇ ಸತ್ಯದ ಲಕ್ಷಣ.
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s didactic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for ethical rhetoric: classify ‘truthful speech’ by pragmatic modes (including concealment/restraint) and anchor truth in universal welfare rather than mere factuality.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Satya-vākya-lakṣaṇa: truth as supremely beneficial speech (tenfold classification)","lookup_keywords":["satya-vakya","sukha-apahnuti","samrodha","badha","hitavacana"],"quick_summary":"Truthful speech is defined not only by correspondence to fact but by maximal benefit to beings; it is taught as tenfold, including modes like concealing another’s pleasure, restraint, and prohibition when welfare requires."}
Concept: Satya is welfare-oriented: speech becomes ‘true’ in the dharmic sense when it protects and benefits beings, sometimes via restraint or concealment.
Application: Before speaking, test words by (1) benefit, (2) harm-avoidance, (3) necessity; use silence/restraint when disclosure would injure.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya-śāstra) — Satya-vākya-lakṣaṇa (truthful speech and its classifications)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher-poet in a learning hall defines ‘truthful speech’ as that which benefits beings, showing symbolic panels of restraint, concealment, and prohibition used compassionately.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, acharya seated with palm-leaf text, students attentive, three symbolic panels behind: a hand over lips (samrodha), a covered lamp (sukha-apahnuti), a raised palm stopping harm (badha), rich reds and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-leaf accents on the guru’s seat and manuscript, inscription-like list of ten kinds of satya-vakya, serene faces, ornate arch framing the teaching scene","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean didactic composition: guru pointing to a board listing satya-vakya types, emphasis on clarity and pedagogy, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a madrasa-like sabha with Sanskrit pandit, marginal annotations showing ‘benefit to beings’ as central medallion, delicate floral borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi resolved: sukhāpahnutiḥ→sukha-apahnutiḥ; yadbhūtahitamatyantam→yat bhūta-hitam atyantam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra sections on lakshana and niti-style instruction; Agni Purana Sadachara passages on satya and priya-vacana
FAQs
It gives a technical definition used in śāstric discourse: speech counts as ‘truth’ when it is maximally beneficial to beings, and it notes that ‘truthful speech’ is analyzed into ten types (with examples such as restraint and prohibition).
By treating speech-ethics and definitional taxonomy (lakṣaṇa and bheda) in a śāstra-like manner, it shows the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic scope beyond ritual—covering moral philosophy and literary/semantic analysis.
It frames satya not as mere factuality but as dharmic speech that protects beings; aligning one’s words with bhūta-hita is presented as the spiritually wholesome standard for truth.