Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 43
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
कटुः कटुम्भरा चाथ चक्राङ्गी शकुलादनी आत्मगुप्ता प्रावृषायी कपिकच्छुश् च मर्कटी
kaṭuḥ kaṭumbharā cātha cakrāṅgī śakulādanī ātmaguptā prāvṛṣāyī kapikacchuś ca markaṭī
‘কটু’, ‘কটুম্ভৰা’, ‘চক্রাঙ্গী’, ‘শকুলাদনী’, ‘আত্মগুপ্তা’, ‘প্ৰাবৃষায়ী’, ‘কপিকচ্ছু’ আৰু ‘মৰ্কটী’—এইবোৰ একে ঔষধদ্ৰব্যৰ স্বীকৃত পৰ্যায়নাম।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s encyclopedic Ayurveda section to Sage Vasiṣṭha, per the text’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Clarifies that multiple names (Kaṭu, Kaṭumbharā, Cakrāṅgī, etc.) denote the same drug—critical for safe substitution and correct dispensing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Single dravya with multiple paryāyas: Kaṭu/Kaṭumbharā/Cakrāṅgī/Śakulādanī/Ātmaguptā/Prāvṛṣāyī/Kapikacchu/Markaṭī","lookup_keywords":["Kapikacchu","Ātmaguptā","Cakrāṅgī","Kaṭumbharā","Markaṭī"],"quick_summary":"States a synonym cluster for one medicinal plant/drug (commonly recognized around Kapikacchu/Ātmaguptā usage), enabling consistent identification across texts and regions."}
Concept: Ekatva of dravya despite nāna-nāma (many names): linguistic plurality does not imply material plurality.
Application: In clinical reading, normalize synonyms to a single standardized dispensary name to prevent double-dosing or wrong substitution.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Dravyaguṇa / Nighaṇṭu-style medicinal plant synonyms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A single creeper/plant specimen on a table with many hanging name-tags (Kaṭu, Kapikacchu, Ātmaguptā, etc.), showing ‘one plant—many names’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, one central plant with multiple ribbon labels radiating outward, a vaidya gesturing to show equivalence, decorative border foliage.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central plant framed with gold-leaf rays, multiple small gold name-plaques around it, temple-like symmetry and rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, didactic diagram: one plant illustration with arrows to synonym labels, clean composition, emphasis on clarity and taxonomy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, botanical study with numerous calligraphed captions in the margins, scholar tying tags to the specimen, fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhoopali","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: च + अथ → चाथ; कपिकच्छुश् + च → कपिकच्छुः च (visarga before ca).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (paryāya clusters for dravyas)
FAQs
Ayurvedic dravyaguṇa knowledge: it supplies a synonym-chain (nāmāni) for a medicinal drug—commonly identified with Kapikacchu/Ātmaguptā—so physicians can correctly recognize the plant across regional and textual name-variants.
By cataloging pharmacological nomenclature (multiple classical and vernacular-style names for one drug), the Agni Purana functions like a compact nighaṇṭu (materia medica index), integrating practical medical reference material into a Purāṇic corpus.
Its significance is primarily practical: correct identification of medicinal substances supports dharmic care of the body (ārogya as a support for sādhanā and duty), minimizing harm from misidentification and enabling proper, beneficial treatment.