Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 21
Adhyāya 361 — अव्ययवर्गः
Avyaya-vargaḥ) — The Section on Indeclinables (Colophon/Closure
ग्रावाणौ शैलपाषानौ मूर्खनीचौ पृथग्जनौ तरुशैलौ शिखरिणौ तनुस्त्वग्देहयोरपि
grāvāṇau śailapāṣānau mūrkhanīcau pṛthagjanau taruśailau śikhariṇau tanustvagdehayorapi
„Grāvāṇa“ und „śaila-pāṣāṇa“ sind Bezeichnungen für Steine und Felsmassen. „Mūrkha“ und „nīca“ werden für den gemeinen Toren bzw. den niedrigen Menschen gebraucht. „Pṛthag-jana“ bezeichnet das gewöhnliche Volk. „Taru“ und „śaila“ werden auch für „śikhariṇ“ (den gipfeltragenden Berg) verwendet. Und „tanu“ wird ebenso für „tvac“ (Haut) und „deha“ (Körper) gebraucht.
Lord Agni (teaching, in a lexicon/poetics section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Supports accurate synonym choice in description (stones, mountains, people) and resolves semantic extension (tanu meaning skin/body).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Synonym clusters: stone/mountain terms; social descriptors; tanu as skin/body","lookup_keywords":["grāvāṇa","śaila-pāṣāṇa","pṛthag-jana","śikhariṇ","tanu"],"quick_summary":"Lists equivalent words for stones and mountain-bearing peaks, labels for base foolish persons and common folk, and notes that ‘tanu’ can denote skin or body."}
Concept: Meaning is stabilized by conventional usage (rūḍhi) across domains—natural objects, social categories, and anatomy.
Application: Improves translation and commentary by preventing category errors (e.g., reading tanu only as ‘slender’ when it means ‘skin/body’).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Lexicography / Synonyms: Nighaṇṭu-style)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau: labeled rock and boulder forms (grāvāṇa, śaila-pāṣāṇa), a mountain peak with trees (śikhariṇ), a crowd labeled pṛthag-jana, and an anatomical inset showing skin (tvac) and body (deha) linked to the word tanu.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented panels: stylized rocks and a tree-crowned mountain peak, a procession of common folk, and a simple anatomical inset of skin/body with Sanskrit labels, bold outlines and earthy tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate framed panels with gold borders: mountain peak with trees, textured rocks with gold highlights, a small crowd scene, and a miniature anatomical inset; rich jewel colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram aesthetic: clear labeled natural forms and a neat tvac/deha inset, delicate shading, balanced composition for teaching vocabulary","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with landscape: detailed rocky outcrops and a peak with trees, a bustling group of townsfolk, and a marginal anatomical sketch in a cartouche, fine brushwork and pastel washes"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pṛthagjanau = pṛthak-janau; tanustvagdehayorapi = tanuḥ tvag-dehayoḥ api (tvag + dehayoḥ with sandhi g+d -> gd).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 361 (Kośa/Nighaṇṭu entries on common nouns)
FAQs
This verse imparts Śābdika/Sāhitya-vidyā: a technical lexical mapping of Sanskrit synonyms (nighaṇṭu-style), useful for precise reading, composition, and interpretation of śāstra and kāvya.
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana also preserves language-knowledge—synonyms, semantic ranges, and usage—supporting grammar, poetics, and accurate transmission of technical texts, which is a hallmark of its encyclopedic scope.
Mastery of correct meanings and usage safeguards faithful recitation and understanding of scripture; in the Purāṇic view, accurate comprehension supports right conduct (dharma) and reduces errors in study, teaching, and ritual speech.