Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 73
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
वृश्चिकः शूककीटः स्यात्सारङ्गस्तोककौ समौ कृकवाकुस्ताम्रचूडः पिकः कोकिल इत्य् अपि
vṛścikaḥ śūkakīṭaḥ syātsāraṅgastokakau samau kṛkavākustāmracūḍaḥ pikaḥ kokila ity api
‘বৃশ্চিক’ মানে বিচ্ছু; ‘শূককীট’ এক প্রকার কীট। ‘সারঙ্গ’ ও ‘টোকক’ সমার্থক। ‘কৃকবাকু’কে ‘তাম্রচূড়’ও বলা হয়; আর ‘পিক’কে ‘কোকিল’ (কোকিল/কুয়েল)ও বলা হয়।
Lord Agni (teaching in an encyclopedic, lexicon-style listing)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Clarifies synonymy for insects/birds and related terms, supporting accurate interpretation of omens, metaphors, and natural descriptions in śāstra and kāvya.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Paryāya: Vṛścika (scorpion), Sāraṅga/Tokaka, Kṛkavāku/Tāmracūḍa, Pika/Kokila","lookup_keywords":["vṛścika","śūkakīṭa","sāraṅga tokaka","kṛkavāku tāmracūḍa","pika kokila"],"quick_summary":"Provides alternate names for select creatures, especially birds used in poetic imagery (kokila). Enables consistent identification across regional vocabularies."}
Concept: Śabdārtha-saṅgraha (systematic collection of word-meanings) as a foundation for higher discourse.
Application: Use ‘pika/kokila’ interchangeably in poetry; recognize variant bird/insect terms in commentarial reading.
Khanda Section: Shabda-kosha / Nighaṇṭu (Lexicography: synonym lists in Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A spring forest scene: a kokila perched and singing, a rooster-like bird for kṛkavāku/tāmracūḍa, a scorpion on the ground, and a small insect; each annotated with synonym labels like a lexicon plate.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, lush stylized foliage, kokila on a branch with open beak, scorpion below, decorative framing and label ribbons in Sanskrit, rhythmic patterning.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central kokila with gold-highlighted leaves and border, secondary vignettes of scorpion and birds, ornate inscription cartouches for synonyms.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional naturalist composition with clear labeled creatures, fine brushwork on feathers and insect forms, soft background wash.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed birds with delicate plumage, scorpion rendered precisely, garden setting with flowering trees, marginal calligraphy listing synonym pairs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Vasant","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syātsāraṅgaḥ = स्यात् + सारङ्गः. kṛkavākustāmracūḍaḥ = कृकवाकुः + ताम्रचूडः (visarga sandhi). ity api = इति + अपि (y-insertion).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (continued synonym lists); Agni Purana alaṅkāra/kāvya sections where bird imagery is employed
FAQs
This verse imparts Śabda-vidyā (lexical knowledge): it lists correct Sanskrit names and synonyms for specific creatures/birds, useful for precise reading, composition, and interpretation of ritual/śāstric passages.
By functioning like a nighaṇṭu (glossary), it preserves standardized terminology and synonymy—an encyclopedic feature that supports multiple disciplines (ritual manuals, medicine, zoological references, and poetic literature) that rely on exact word-usage.
Its primary aim is not a direct rite but textual purity: learning correct names and meanings supports accurate recitation, comprehension, and transmission of dharma-texts, which traditional frameworks regard as meritorious through preservation of śāstra.