Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 61
अश्ववाहनसारः
Aśvavāhana-sāra) — Essentials of Horses as Mounts (and Horse-Treatment
पञ्चोलूखलिका कार्या गर्वितास्ते ऽतिकीर्तिताः संक्षिप्तञ्चैव विक्षिप्तं कुञ्चितञ्च यथाचितम्
pañcolūkhalikā kāryā garvitāste 'tikīrtitāḥ saṃkṣiptañcaiva vikṣiptaṃ kuñcitañca yathācitam
पञ्चोलूखलिका कार्या; तासु ‘गर्विता’ अतिकीर्तिता। तत्र संक्षिप्तं विक्षिप्तं कुञ्चितं च, यथाचितं च विधीयते।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"Poetic/metrical composition and performative delivery: selecting among olūkhalikā-types and applying movement/variation modes (contracted, expanded, curled) for effective cadence and expression.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Olūkhalikā-bheda and gati-viśeṣa (saṃkṣipta, vikṣipta, kuñcita, yathā-citam)","lookup_keywords":["olūkhalikā","garvitā","saṃkṣipta","vikṣipta","kuñcita"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates five olūkhalikā-types, praising garvitā as foremost, and indicates practical modes of variation—contracting, expanding, curling, or adapting as context demands."}
Alamkara Type: Vṛtti/Gati-vinyāsa (prosodic/performative modulation rather than a single alaṅkāra)
Concept: Aucitya (context-appropriateness) governs technique; excellence is not only rule-following but right adaptation (yathā-citam).
Application: In composition/recitation, choose the celebrated form (garvitā) when suitable, and modulate delivery by contracting, expanding, or curling patterns to fit meaning and audience.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Chandas & Kavya-rachana: metrical/poetic technique)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A poet-teacher instructs students on five olūkhalikā forms, demonstrating four modes—contracted, expanded, curled, and context-appropriate—using hand gestures and a palm-leaf manuscript.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru seated with palm-leaf, students in attentive rows, stylized hand gestures showing saṃkṣipta/vikṣipta/kuñcita, warm earthy palette, temple-school ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, guru with halo-like aureole, gold-leaf on manuscript edges, students holding stylus and palm leaves, visual panels labeled garvitā and the four modes, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional diagram feel: four gesture/posture vignettes for saṃkṣipta, vikṣipta, kuñcita, yathā-citam; fine outlines, soft shading, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a literary salon, poet demonstrating rhythmic modulation, attendants with manuscripts, delicate architectural interior, precise textiles, marginal notes indicating the modes."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ते ऽतिकीर्तिताः = ते अति-कीर्तिताः. संक्षिप्तञ्चैव = संक्षिप्तम् च एव. कुञ्चितञ्च = कुञ्चितम् च. यथाचितम् = यथा-अचितम् (अव्ययीभाव).
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections on chandas, alaṅkāra, and kāvya-lakṣaṇa (sahitya-shastra khanda)
FAQs
It teaches a technical classification used in Sanskrit poetics/prosody: the ‘olūkhalikā’ set (five modes), highlighting ‘garvitā’ as especially renowned and listing practical cadence-types such as contracted, expanded, and curled/bent movement.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves systematic knowledge of Sanskrit literary science (śāstra)—including named metrical or stylistic movements—showing its role as a compendium of cultural and technical disciplines.
While primarily technical, mastering correct chandas and poetic form supports accurate recitation and transmission of sacred and didactic texts, which traditional thought treats as meritorious (puṇya) through disciplined speech (vāk) and faithful preservation of śāstra.