Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 5
Chapter 344: Ornaments of Word-and-Meaning (शब्दार्थालङ्काराः)
यथा वस्तु तथा रीतिर्यथा वृत्तिस् तथा रसः ऊर्जस्विमृदुसन्दर्भादौचित्यमुपजायते
yathā vastu tathā rītiryathā vṛttis tathā rasaḥ ūrjasvimṛdusandarbhādaucityamupajāyate
Каков предмет, таков должен быть поэтический стиль (rīti); каков способ выражения (vṛtti), таков должен быть и эстетический вкус (rasa). Из сочинения, одновременно мощного и мягкого, рождается уместность (aucitya).
Lord Agni (narrating the principles of Sanskrit poetics to Sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"Match rīti and vṛtti to the subject and intended rasa; cultivate aucitya by balancing vigor and softness in diction and composition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Rīti–Vṛtti–Rasa Correspondence and Aucitya","lookup_keywords":["riti","vrtti","rasa","aucitya","urjasvi-mrdu"],"quick_summary":"Style should fit the subject, and expressive mode should fit the rasa. Propriety (aucitya) arises when composition blends vigor (ūrjasvin) with gentleness (mṛdu) appropriately."}
Concept: Aucitya is the governing principle: expression must be proportionate to subject and intended aesthetic experience.
Application: In kāvya/nāṭya, select rīti (e.g., more compact or more ornate) and vṛtti (e.g., gentle vs forceful texture) to support the target rasa; revise passages that feel mismatched in tone.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya-shastra: Rasa, Riti, Vrtti, Auchitya)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A poet revises a manuscript while a teacher indicates how different subjects demand different styles; panels show the same theme rendered in vigorous and gentle diction, culminating in aucitya.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, triptych composition: left ‘vastu’ (subject) icon, center poet writing, right audience experiencing rasa; teacher’s hand-gesture indicating ‘anurūpa’ (fit), earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, poet and guru under a decorative arch, gold-leaf accents on manuscript and ornaments, symbolic motifs for rasa (lotus for śṛṅgāra, flame for vīra) showing matching rīti/vṛtti","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram-like scene with labeled scrolls ‘rīti’, ‘vṛtti’, ‘rasa’, ‘aucitya’, soft colors, clear composition for pedagogy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with poets comparing drafts, marginal notes indicating ‘ūrjasvin’ and ‘mṛdu’, refined interior, attentive connoisseurs (sahṛdaya)"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रीतिर्यथा = रीतिः + यथा; वृत्तिस् तथा = वृत्तिः + तथा; सन्दर्भादौचित्यमुपजायते = सन्दर्भात् + औचित्यम् + उपजायते।
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sāhitya-khaṇḍa sections on rasa, rīti, guṇa-doṣa, aucitya (around 344)
FAQs
It imparts kavya-shastra knowledge: poetic propriety (aucitya) arises when subject-matter (vastu), style (rīti), mode of expression (vṛtti), and sentiment (rasa) are mutually consistent, and the composition balances vigor (ūrjas) with softness (mārdava).
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana also systematizes Sanskrit literary theory—here summarizing core categories (vastu–rīti–vṛtti–rasa) and the governing principle of aucitya, showing its coverage of arts and aesthetics alongside religious instruction.
By promoting measured, appropriate speech and composition, it supports dharmic communication—words aligned to context and intent reduce harm, cultivate sattva, and make teaching, praise, and narration spiritually effective.