Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 4
Chapter 344: Ornaments of Word-and-Meaning (शब्दार्थालङ्काराः)
प्रेमोक्तिस्तुतिपर्यायौ प्रियोक्तिगुणकीर्तने कान्तिः सर्वमनोरुच्यवाच्यवात्तकसङ्गतिः
premoktistutiparyāyau priyoktiguṇakīrtane kāntiḥ sarvamanorucyavācyavāttakasaṅgatiḥ
«Premokti» и «stuti» — термины-синонимы; «priyokti» — речь, восхваляющая достоинства. «Kānti» — то, что радует всякий ум: уместная гармония между тем, что можно выразить, и тем, что передаётся в слове.
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.