Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 5
Mantra-paribhāṣā (मन्त्रपरिभाषा) — Colophon/Closure
व्यन्तरा दोषमिश्रास्ते सर्पां दर्वीकराः स्मृताः रथाङ्गलाङ्गलच्छत्रस्वस्तिकाङ्कुशधारिणः
vyantarā doṣamiśrāste sarpāṃ darvīkarāḥ smṛtāḥ rathāṅgalāṅgalacchatrasvastikāṅkuśadhāriṇaḥ
Jene Vyantaras sind von gemischten (moralischen) Mängeln; unter den Schlangen gelten sie als die Klasse Darvīkara, die die Zeichen von Wagenrad (cakra), Pflug, Schirm, Svastika und Aṅkuśa (Elefantenhaken) trägt.
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Identifying a specific serpent-class (Darvīkara) within mixed-nature Vyantaras by their emblematic marks; used for taxonomy in bhūta/being catalogues and omen-like recognition lore.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vyantara–Darvīkara Serpents and Their Emblems","lookup_keywords":["Vyantara","Darvīkara","rathāṅga","svastika","aṅkuśa"],"quick_summary":"Describes a mixed-defect class of beings (Vyantaras) remembered among serpents as Darvīkaras, distinguished by carrying/marked with specific emblems. Functions as an identification key within supernatural taxonomy."}
Concept: Liminal beings are recognized through lakṣaṇa (signs/emblems); moral-mixture (doṣa-miśra) is a category in cosmological ethics.
Application: Use emblem-lists as a recognition schema in narrative, ritual cautionary contexts, and iconographic depiction.
Khanda Section: Cosmology & Supernatural Beings (Yaksha–Rakshasa–Naga classifications / Bhuta-vidya style taxonomy)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Cosmic-Region
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A liminal serpent-being cohort labeled Darvīkara, each displaying symbolic emblems: wheel, plough, parasol, svastika, and goad, suggesting a heraldic system.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dark-liminal background, serpent-beings with human-like torsos and hoods, each holding one emblem (wheel, plough, parasol, svastika banner, goad), bold outlines, ritual intensity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, icon-like Darvīkara serpent figure with gold halo, surrounding emblem medallions in embossed gold (rathāṅga, lāṅgala, chatra, svastika, aṅkuśa), rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean didactic illustration of five emblem variants, each serpent-being neatly posed with its attribute, fine detailing and readable symbols.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a scholar-cataloguer observing serpent-beings in a garden-cave threshold, each with distinct emblem, intricate textile patterns, precise symbolic rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: doṣamiśrās te = doṣamiśrāḥ + te; sarpāṃ = sarpān (anusvāra orthography); rathāṅga- = ratha + aṅga; -cchatra- = chatra (sandhi doubling).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: bhūta/yakṣa/rākṣasa/nāga varga-nirūpaṇa passages; lakṣaṇa-based catalogues
FAQs
It gives a diagnostic taxonomy: how to identify a specific serpent-class (Darvīkara) associated with Vyantaras by their characteristic insignia (wheel, plough, parasol, svastika, goad).
It functions like a catalog entry—classifying non-human beings and listing their identifying emblems—showing the Purana’s compendium-style coverage of cosmology, iconography, and mythic zoology.
By marking these beings as doṣa-miśra (fault-mixed), the verse frames them as spiritually ambivalent; recognizing such categories supports discernment in Puranic cosmology and cautions against indiscriminate association with morally mixed entities.