Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 22
Chapter 366 — सामान्यनामलिङ्गानि
Common Noun-Forms and Their Grammatical Genders
स्फातिर्वृद्धौ प्रथा ख्यातौ समाहारः समुच्चयः अपहारस्त्वपचयो विहारस्तु परिक्रमः
sphātirvṛddhau prathā khyātau samāhāraḥ samuccayaḥ apahārastvapacayo vihārastu parikramaḥ
“Sphāti” denotes increase (growth). “Prathā” means renown (wide fame). “Samāhāra” is a collection, i.e., an aggregation. “Apahāra” signifies decrease (diminution). And “Vihāra” means roaming about, i.e., going around (perambulation).
Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"A compact semantic glossary for correct word-meaning usage in composition, commentary, and precise communication—useful for students, poets, and editors.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Semantic definitions: sphāti, prathā, samāhāra, apahāra, vihāra","lookup_keywords":["sphati","pratha","samahara","apahara","vihara"],"quick_summary":"Defines key terms by their primary senses: increase, fame, aggregation, decrease, and roaming/perambulation. It functions as a mini-lexicon for accurate usage and interpretation."}
Alamkara Type: Nirvacana (lexical definition)
Concept: Artha-niścaya (fixing meaning) as a prerequisite for right understanding and right expression; semantic discipline prevents interpretive drift.
Application: When reading or composing, apply these fixed senses to avoid ambiguity—e.g., use samāhāra for aggregation, apahāra for diminution, vihāra for perambulation.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Lexicography / Synonyms and semantic definitions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lexicographer-teacher pointing to a board listing the five terms with their meanings; small symbolic icons: growing plant for sphāti, crowd acclaim for prathā, piled grains for samāhāra, shrinking measure for apahāra, walking path around a shrine for vihāra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, teacher with palm-leaf manuscript, five framed symbols (sprouting plant, praising crowd, heap of grains, diminishing pot, circumambulation around temple), bold outlines and traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central scholar with gold-embossed manuscript, five gold-framed medallions illustrating each meaning, rich jewel tones and ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean educational composition with labeled icons and neat Sanskrit terms, soft colors, emphasis on legibility and didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholar scene with a glossary page, delicate marginal vignettes for each term (growth, fame, collection, decrease, perambulation), fine brushwork and balanced layout"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्फातिर्वृद्धौ = स्फातिः + वृद्धौ; ख्यातौ (सप्तमी) ‘ख्याति’ अर्थे; अपहारस्त्वपचयः = अपहारः + तु + अपचयः; विहारस्तु = विहारः + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra lexical/technical lists; Agni Purana sections that define terms for ritual, cosmography, and poetics (shared encyclopedic method)
FAQs
This verse imparts lexical/semantic knowledge (nighantu-vidya): precise Sanskrit sense-definitions for key terms like sphāti (increase), prathā (renown), samāhāra (collection), apahāra/apacaya (decrease), and vihāra (perambulation).
By preserving compact, technical meaning-equivalences (synonyms and sense-glosses), it functions like a mini-lexicon within the Purana—showing that the Agni Purana includes not only ritual and dharma but also systematic language-knowledge used for literature, interpretation, and scholastic study.
Accurate understanding of words is treated as supportive to right knowledge (samyag-jñāna) and correct recitation/interpretation of sacred texts; such clarity reduces error in study and practice, aiding disciplined learning and meritorious scriptural engagement.