Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 16
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
तस्मिन् दधिफलः पुष्पफलदन्तशठावपि उडुम्बरे हेमदुग्धः कोविदारे द्विपत्रकः
tasmin dadhiphalaḥ puṣpaphaladantaśaṭhāvapi uḍumbare hemadugdhaḥ kovidāre dvipatrakaḥ
For that tree, the synonyms are “Dadhiphala,” and also “Puṣpaphala,” “Danta,” and “Śaṭhā.” For the Udumbara (cluster fig) the synonym is “Hemadugdha,” and for the Kovidāra tree the synonym is “Dvipatraka.”
Lord Agni (narrating encyclopedic knowledge to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the usual Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Materia medica disambiguation: assigns specific synonym-pairs to particular trees (Palāśa/related entry continuation; Udumbara; Kovidāra) to support correct identification and substitution control.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Synonyms: Dadhiphala/Puṣpaphala/Danta/Śaṭhā; Udumbara=Hemadugdha; Kovidāra=Dvipatraka","lookup_keywords":["udumbara","hemadugdha","kovidāra","dvipatraka","dadhiphala"],"quick_summary":"Links key synonym-epithets to their respective dravyas (Udumbara and Kovidāra explicitly), serving as a quick lookup for pharmacists and readers of variant traditions."}
Concept: Name-knowledge (nāma) anchors object-knowledge (dravya); correct mapping is itself a discipline.
Application: Create a synonym-to-species index for local practice to avoid regional-name confusion.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Dravyaguna (Medicinal plants and synonyms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Three trees shown for identification: Udumbara with clustered figs and milky latex suggested by ‘Hemadugdha’; Kovidāra with distinctive two-lobed leaves (‘Dvipatraka’); a manuscript margin notes synonyms Dadhiphala/Puṣpaphala/Danta/Śaṭhā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with stylized fig clusters on Udumbara and bilobed leaves on Kovidāra, a scribe painting synonym labels on palm-leaf strips, warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold highlights on fig clusters and leaf edges, two trees flanking a central manuscript panel reading Hemadugdha and Dvipatraka, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate: close-up botanical features (cluster figs; bilobed leaves) with clean labels, teacher pointing with a stylus.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature botanical study, fine detailing of Ficus racemosa fruit clusters and Bauhinia leaves, scholar annotating synonyms in the margin."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: puṣpaphaladantaśaṭhāvapi = puṣpa-phala-danta-śaṭhau + api (āv = au + a sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362.15 (Palāśa synonyms); Agni Purana 362.17-18 (further drug-name lists)
FAQs
Ayurvedic dravyaguṇa/nighaṇṭu knowledge: it records accepted Sanskrit synonym-names for specific medicinal trees (e.g., Udumbara as Hemadugdha; Kovidāra as Dvipatraka) to ensure correct identification in formulations.
It functions like a materia-medica glossary embedded in a Purana—cataloguing technical plant nomenclature used by physicians and ritual specialists—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond mythology into practical sciences such as Ayurveda.
While primarily technical, correct naming supports correct application in rites and remedies; accurate identification prevents faulty offerings or medicines, aligning practice with dharma and thereby supporting purity and beneficial results.