Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 4
Chapter 344: Ornaments of Word-and-Meaning (शब्दार्थालङ्काराः)
प्रेमोक्तिस्तुतिपर्यायौ प्रियोक्तिगुणकीर्तने कान्तिः सर्वमनोरुच्यवाच्यवात्तकसङ्गतिः
premoktistutiparyāyau priyoktiguṇakīrtane kāntiḥ sarvamanorucyavācyavāttakasaṅgatiḥ
‘ਪ੍ਰੇਮੋਕਤੀ’ ਅਤੇ ‘ਸਤੁਤੀ’ ਪਰਯਾਏ ਹਨ; ‘ਪ੍ਰਿਯੋਕਤੀ’ ਉਹ ਬਾਣੀ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਗੁਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਕਰੇ। ‘ਕਾਂਤੀ’ ਸਭ ਮਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਰਿਝਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੀ—ਵਾਚ੍ਯ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਵਿਤ ਅਰਥ ਦੀ ਯਥੋਚਿਤ ਸੰਗਤ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as the Agni Purāṇa’s primary didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Use these paribhāṣā-terms to classify praise-speech and to judge whether an expression achieves pleasing harmony between explicit wording and intended sense in poetry/prose.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Premokti–Stuti–Priyokti–Kānti (Paribhāṣā)","lookup_keywords":["premokti","stuti","priyokti","kanti","vacyavācaka-saṅgati"],"quick_summary":"Premokti and stuti are treated as synonyms; priyokti is virtue-praise. Kānti is the charm that pleases all minds through apt concord between what is expressible (vācya) and what is communicated in discourse."}
Concept: Language-pleasure arises from fitness between expressed wording and conveyed sense; praise-speech has named subtypes.
Application: When composing stotra/kāvya, choose priyokti for guṇa-kīrtana and test kānti by checking vācya–artha concord and audience delight.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Alaṅkāra & Nighaṇṭu/Paribhāṣā: poetic and rhetorical terminology)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned ācārya in a sabhā points to a palm-leaf glossary, defining types of praise-speech and the quality called kānti as harmonious expression that delights listeners.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, scholarly sabhā with an ācārya holding palm-leaf manuscript, students seated, subtle warm ochres and greens, emphasis on expressive hand-gestures indicating ‘stuti’ and ‘kānti’, traditional flat perspective","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate sabhā scene with gold-leaf highlights on manuscript edges and jewelry, central teacher explaining paribhāṣā terms, rich reds and greens, decorative arch backdrop","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional tableau of teacher and students with labeled manuscript folios ‘premokti/stuti/priyokti/kānti’, calm scholarly ambience","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly literary gathering, fine textiles, teacher demonstrating a glossary page, attentive poets, delicate borders, detailed facial expressions showing ‘delight’ (kānti)"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Sarasvati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्तुति-पर्यायौ इति द्वन्द्वः (द्विवचन). सर्वमनोरुच्यवाच्यवात्तकसङ्गतिः इति बहुपदसमासः; पदच्छेदः: सर्व-मनः-रुच्य- वाच्य- वात्तक- सङ्गतिः।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 344 (Sāhitya-śāstra paribhāṣā section); Agni Purana chapters on guṇa-doṣa and alaṅkāra (Sāhitya-khaṇḍa, adjacent verses)
FAQs
It imparts Sahitya-śāstra (poetics) knowledge by defining rhetorical categories—premokti/stuti (synonymous praise), priyokti (virtue-praising speech), and kānti (aesthetic charm as harmony of stated and conveyed meaning).
By cataloging precise literary-theoretical terms and their functions, it shows the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage beyond ritual—preserving a compact glossary of Sanskrit aesthetics and rhetorical analysis alongside other sciences.
While primarily technical, it supports dharmic speech: praising virtues and using agreeable, well-fitted expression cultivates sāttvika communication, reinforcing ethical refinement and devotional praise (stuti) as meritorious conduct.