Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 10

Chapter 360 — अव्ययवर्गाः

Groups of Indeclinables

Devanagari script

प्रश्नावधारणानुज्ञानुनयामन्त्रणे ननु गर्हासमुच्चयप्रश्नशङ्कासम्भावनास्व् अपि

Transliteration

praśnāvadhāraṇānujñānunayāmantraṇe nanu garhāsamuccayapraśnaśaṅkāsambhāvanāsv api

Translation

La partícula «nanu» se usa también con los sentidos de: interrogación, determinación enfática (aseveración), permiso, persuasión conciliadora e invitación; y asimismo para censura, agregación (añadir un punto), nueva interrogación, duda y suposición/probabilidad (sambhāvanā).

Word by Word

• praśna-avadhāraṇa-anujñā-anunaya-āmantraṇe: in (the senses of) question, determination, permission, entreaty, and invitation
• praśna-avadhāraṇa-anujñā-anunaya-āmantraṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praśna (प्रातिपदिक) + avadhāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anujñā (प्रातिपदिक) + anunaya (प्रातिपदिक) + āmantraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); समासः: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective) listing senses ‘in question, determination, permission, entreaty, invitation’

• nanu: surely?; indeed (particle)
• nanu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nanu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात), often in questions/objection

• garhā-samuccaya-praśna-śaṅkā-sambhāvanāsu: in (the senses of) censure, accumulation, question, doubt, and possibility
• garhā-samuccaya-praśna-śaṅkā-sambhāvanāsu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garhā (प्रातिपदिक) + samuccaya (प्रातिपदिक) + praśna (प्रातिपदिक) + śaṅkā (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhāvanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः: समुच्चयार्थे बहुपद-द्वन्द्व listing senses ‘in censure, accumulation, question, doubt, possibility’

• api: also; even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात)

Speaker

Lord Agni (instructing Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic topics, here grammatical/linguistic usage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: praśnāvadhāraṇānujñānunayāmantraṇe = praśna-avadhāraṇa-anujñā-anunaya-āmantraṇe (loc.sg., samāhāra-dvandva). sambhāvanāsv api = sambhāvanāsu + api.

Characters & Entities

• Agni Purana
• nanu

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

This verse imparts Vyākaraṇa-vidyā: the pragmatic/semantic functions of the indeclinable particle “nanu” across contexts such as questioning, assent, persuasion, censure, doubt, and supposition.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

By cataloging fine-grained meanings of a single Sanskrit particle, the text demonstrates its encyclopedic scope—extending beyond ritual and mythology into grammar, rhetoric, and the mechanics of Sanskrit expression used in śāstra and kāvya.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Indirectly, it supports dharmic study: correct comprehension and usage of śāstric language reduces misinterpretation of teachings, enabling accurate recitation, teaching, and application of dharma.