Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 28
Adhyāya 361 — अव्ययवर्गः
Avyaya-vargaḥ) — The Section on Indeclinables (Colophon/Closure
रत्नं स्वजातिश्रेष्ठे ऽपि लक्ष्म चिह्नप्रधानयोः कलापो भूषणे वर्हे तूणीरे संहते ऽपि च
ratnaṃ svajātiśreṣṭhe 'pi lakṣma cihnapradhānayoḥ kalāpo bhūṣaṇe varhe tūṇīre saṃhate 'pi ca
«رَتْنَ» (ratna) تدلّ أيضًا على خير ما في جنسه وأفضله؛ و«لَكْشْمَ» (lakṣma) تدلّ على علامة أو سِمة فارقة رئيسة. و«كَلَاپَ» (kalāpa) تعني حُلِيًّا وزينة، وعُثْكول ريش ذيل الطاووس، وجُعبة السهام، كما تعني أيضًا جماعةً مجتمعة أو مجموعةً مؤتلفة.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic definitions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Terminology aid for literature, courtly discourse, and technical description: interpret 'ratna', 'lakṣma', and 'kalāpa' correctly across contexts (best-of-kind, mark/sign, ornament/peacock plume/quiver/collection).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ratna, Lakṣma, Kalāpa—technical senses and synonyms","lookup_keywords":["ratna meaning","lakṣma sign","kalāpa quiver","kalāpa ornament","nighaṇṭu"],"quick_summary":"Defines key polysemous terms used in kāvya and śāstra: 'ratna' as gem or best-of-kind, 'lakṣma' as mark/distinguishing sign, and 'kalāpa' as ornament, peacock-feather cluster, quiver, or assemblage."}
Weapon Type: Quiver (tūṇīra)
Concept: Words carry layered conventional meanings; mastery of terminology is a limb of learning that prevents misreading in kāvya, śāstra, and iconographic description.
Application: In commentary or composition, verify whether 'kalāpa' means ornament, peacock plume, quiver, or collection by checking collocations (e.g., arrows/warrior vs. adornment vs. bird imagery).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Nighaṇṭu / Lexicography: synonyms and technical senses)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lexicon lesson illustrated with objects: a shining gem labeled 'ratna' and a 'best-of-kind' exemplar; a body/flag bearing a 'lakṣma' mark; and 'kalāpa' shown as jewelry, peacock feather fan, a warrior’s quiver, and a bundled collection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, scholar pointing to four depictions of kalāpa: ornate necklace, peacock tail-feather cluster, warrior with quiver, and a bundled assemblage; alongside a gem and a marked banner (lakṣma); bold contours, traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlighting ratna (gem) and ornament kalāpa; peacock feathers rendered richly; a warrior figure with gilded quiver; decorative borders and embossed details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style technical plate: neatly arranged objects with fine linework—gem, emblematic mark, ornament set, peacock plume, quiver with arrows, bundled collection; subtle shading and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature still-life and courtly scene hybrid: jeweler presenting a gem, court banner with a mark, peacock in garden, archer with quiver; intricate textiles and naturalistic feather detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऽपि → अपि (twice). Other words are primarily locatives used for sense-specification (kośa-style).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Sahitya-śāstra/Nighaṇṭu synonym lists; Agni Purana: Dhanurveda equipment descriptions (tūṇīra, bāṇa-saṃhati); Agni Purana: Shilpa sections where ornaments and attributes are specified
FAQs
It imparts lexical-technical knowledge (nighaṇṭu-vidyā): the accepted multiple meanings of key Sanskrit terms—ratna, lakṣma, and kalāpa—used across literature and technical texts.
By cataloging precise word-senses (ornament, quiver, plume, assemblage, etc.), it functions like a compact dictionary embedded in the Purāṇa, supporting accurate reading of diverse disciplines such as poetics, material culture, and martial terminology.
Correct understanding of śāstric vocabulary supports faithful transmission and recitation of sacred knowledge; preserving accurate meaning is treated as a form of dharma that prevents interpretive error in scripture and ritual discourse.