Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 8
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
सत्यं ब्रूयात्प्रियं ब्रूयान्न ब्रूयात्सत्यमप्रियं प्रियञ्च नानृतं ब्रूयादेष धर्मः सनातनः
satyaṃ brūyātpriyaṃ brūyānna brūyātsatyamapriyaṃ priyañca nānṛtaṃ brūyādeṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ
सत्यं ब्रूयात्प्रियं ब्रूयान्न ब्रूयात्सत्यमप्रियं। प्रियञ्च नानृतं ब्रूयादेष धर्मः सनातनः॥
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purana’s didactic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Everyday rule for speech in family, court, teaching, and counsel: balance truthfulness with kindness; avoid harmful truth and pleasing lies.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Satya-priya-vākya-niyama (Eternal rule of speech)","lookup_keywords":["satyam bruyat","priyam bruyat","apriya-satya","priya-anrita","sanatana-dharma"],"quick_summary":"Speak truth and speak pleasantly; do not speak a truth that causes needless hurt, and do not speak a pleasant falsehood—this is presented as perennial dharma."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa (subtle, via repeated 'brūyāt')
Concept: Ethics of speech: truth must be yoked to compassion; pleasantness must be yoked to honesty.
Application: Use a threefold filter: (1) true? (2) beneficial? (3) timely/pleasant? If not all, prefer silence or reformulation without deceit.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Sadachara (Ethics of truthful and beneficial speech)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A moral instruction scene: an elder advises a youth on speaking truth pleasantly; two contrasting vignettes show harsh truth causing pain and sweet lie causing later harm, with the middle path highlighted.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, elder with raised teaching hand, youth listening, side panels: a sharp-tongued speaker causing tears, and a flattering liar sowing confusion; central panel calm and balanced, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold work, dharma-elder under an arch, inscriptions of the four clauses, luminous faces, symbolic scales balancing ‘satya’ and ‘priya’","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional storyboard: four quadrants labeled satya, priya, apriya-satya (crossed), priya-anrita (crossed), clean lines and gentle palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate courtyard counsel scene, expressive faces, marginal cartouches with the aphorism, fine textile detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Sandhi resolved: brūyātpriyaṃ→brūyāt priyam; brūyānna→brūyāt na; brūyātsatyamapriyaṃ→brūyāt satyam apriyam; priyañca→priyam ca; nānṛtam→na anṛtam; brūyādeṣaḥ→brūyāt eṣaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sadachara and Rajadharma guidance on speech, counsel, and punishment; Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra: niti and lakshana passages
FAQs
It imparts the practical vidyā of ethical speech (vāk-nīti): speak truth and speak agreeably, but avoid harsh truth that causes harm and avoid pleasant falsehood.
Alongside rituals, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also codifies everyday norms (sadācāra). This verse functions as a concise ethical rule governing communication, a key element of social order and rajadharma.
Truthful, non-harmful speech supports dharma and reduces negative karma created by deceit or verbal injury; it is presented as a perennial (sanātana) discipline for inner purity and social harmony.