Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 9
Chapter 366 — सामान्यनामलिङ्गानि
Common Noun-Forms and Their Grammatical Genders
यः सहाञ्चति स सध्र्यङ् स तिर्यङ् यस्तिरो ऽञ्चति वाचोयुक्तिः पटुर्वाग्मी वावदूकश् च वक्तरि
yaḥ sahāñcati sa sadhryaṅ sa tiryaṅ yastiro 'ñcati vācoyuktiḥ paṭurvāgmī vāvadūkaś ca vaktari
Quien se mueve acompañando (en la misma dirección) se llama “sadhryaṅ” (el que va con). Quien se mueve de través se llama “tiryaṅ” (transversal). Y quien se aparta, yendo oblicuamente como desviándose, se denomina “tiro’ñcati”. En un orador, “vācoyukti” es la propiedad en el giro de las frases; “paṭu” es destreza verbal; “vāgmī” es elocuencia; y “vāvadūka” es el que habla en exceso (parlanchín).
Lord Agni (narrating the encyclopedic disciplines to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Clarifies directional-motion compounds/derivatives (sadhryaṅ, tiryaṅ, tiro’ñcati) and speaker-qualities (vācoyukti, paṭu, vāgmī, vāvadūka) for accurate usage in commentary, grammar, and rhetoric.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Directional terms and speaker-qualities: sadhryaṅ, tiryaṅ, tiro’ñcati; vācoyukti, paṭu, vāgmī, vāvadūka","lookup_keywords":["sadhryaṅ","tiryaṅ","tiro’ñcati","vāgmī","vācoyukti"],"quick_summary":"Gives compact semantic definitions for motion-direction terms and for rhetorical labels describing a speaker’s phrasing skill, eloquence, or garrulity."}
Concept: Precision in śabda-prayoga: mapping verbal roots/usages to clear meanings; ethical-aesthetic discernment in speech.
Application: Cultivates disciplined communication—aim for vācoyukti and vāgmī-hood; avoid vāvadūkatā (mere talkativeness) in debate and teaching.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vyakarana/Nirukta—lexical and semantic definitions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher draws three arrows—straight, crosswise, and oblique—to illustrate sadhryaṅ/tiryaṅ/tiro’ñcati; beside him, four portraits of speakers: apt phraser, skilled rhetor, eloquent orator, and a garrulous talker.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru with stylus drawing directional arrows on a board, three paths in bold colors, four speaker-figures with distinct expressions (measured, sharp, radiant, overly talkative), temple-school ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated acharya with golden arch, directional arrows rendered as decorative motifs, four labeled speaker archetypes, gold embossing on manuscript and ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: diagrammatic arrows and labeled terms, refined faces showing speech qualities, clean layout like a pedagogic chart.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, madrasa-like setting, scholar illustrating directions with arrows on paper, four courtiers representing vācoyukti/paṭu/vāgmī/vāvadūka, intricate textiles and margins with calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सहाञ्चति = सह अञ्चति; तिरो ऽञ्चति = तिरः अञ्चति; वाचोयुक्तिः = वाचः युक्तिः; पटुर्वाग्मी = पटुः वाग्मी; वावदूकश् च = वावदूकः च
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra: sections on doṣa/guṇa of speech and poet’s qualifications (nearby in 366)
FAQs
It imparts linguistic/lexical knowledge: precise definitions for motion-direction terms (sadhryaṅ, tiryaṅ, tiro’ñcati) and technical labels for qualities of a speaker (vācoyukti, paṭu, vāgmī, vāvadūka).
Beyond mythology and rites, the Agni Purana catalogues practical disciplines; here it preserves Sanskrit usage and rhetorical taxonomy—showing it functions as a reference compendium for language, semantics, and learned discourse.
By promoting precise and appropriate speech (vācoyukti) and warning against mere verbosity (vāvadūka), it supports satya and śuddha-vāk—disciplined speech regarded as ethically purifying and conducive to dharma.