Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 38
Mantra-paribhāṣā
Technical Definitions and Operational Rules of Mantras
नासागण्डौष्ठदन्तानां द्वे द्वे मूर्धस्ययोः क्रमात् वर्णान् पञ्चसुवर्गानां बाहुचरणसन्धिषु
nāsāgaṇḍauṣṭhadantānāṃ dve dve mūrdhasyayoḥ kramāt varṇān pañcasuvargānāṃ bāhucaraṇasandhiṣu
Des cinq classes de consonnes (les cinq varga), les sons doivent être articulés, deux par deux et dans l’ordre prescrit, au nez, aux joues, aux lèvres et aux dents; de même (dans les autres lieux) au palais et à la gorge; et leur articulation est encore indiquée aux articulations des bras et des jambes.
Lord Agni (narrating the encyclopedic teachings of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Correct varga-ucchāraṇa (place/manner of articulation) for Vedic recitation, mantra-japa, and śikṣā-based pronunciation training.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Varga-vyajana Ucchāraṇa-sthāna (Articulation points of the five consonant classes)","lookup_keywords":["varga","ucchāraṇa-sthāna","nāsa-oṣṭha-danta","mūrdhan-kaṇṭha","śikṣā"],"quick_summary":"Maps consonant-classes to bodily articulation points to standardize pronunciation; useful for śikṣā training and mantra clarity."}
Concept: Śabda as a disciplined science: correct sound-production is a prerequisite for meaning and ritual efficacy.
Application: Use articulation-point awareness to reduce recitation errors (varṇa-viparyaya, aspasta-ucchāraṇa) in study and worship.
Khanda Section: Vyakarana / Shiksha (Sanskrit Phonetics and Articulation)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher of śikṣā points to a diagram of the mouth and throat, indicating nose, lips, teeth, palate, and throat as articulation points for the five vargas; students repeat sounds in sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, guru in white dhoti teaching śikṣā, stylized mouth-throat diagram, labeled nāsa oṣṭha danta mūrdhan kaṇṭha, earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated guru with palm-leaf manuscript, gold-leaf halo, students chanting, ornate border, small inset showing articulation points of vargas with gold highlights","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional scene with fine linework, clear labeled schematic of articulation points, calm classroom setting, muted palette, emphasis on pedagogy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly classroom, detailed faces and textiles, a phonetics chart on a stand showing nose-lip-teeth-palate-throat, students reciting in rows"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नासागण्डौष्ठदन्तानाम् = नासा + गण्ड + ओष्ठ + दन्तानाम् (समास/द्वन्द्व); पञ्चसुवर्गानाम् = पञ्चसु + वर्गानाम्; बाहुचरणसन्धिषु = बाहु + चरण + सन्धिषु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 292 (Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa section: varṇa-vibhāga, sthāna-karaṇa)
FAQs
It teaches Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa-style phonetics: how the five consonant-classes (pañca-varga) are to be produced from specific articulatory locations (nose, cheeks, lips, teeth, etc.), i.e., a practical guide to correct pronunciation.
Alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves technical language-knowledge (phonetics and sound-production). This verse exemplifies its inclusion of Sanskrit linguistic science as part of a broad compendium of disciplines.
Correct articulation safeguards the accuracy of mantra-recitation and Vedic/Puranic chanting; traditionally, precise pronunciation is viewed as preserving meaning and efficacy, supporting purity and merit in recitation-based practices.