Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 5
Mantra-paribhāṣā (मन्त्रपरिभाषा) — Colophon/Closure
व्यन्तरा दोषमिश्रास्ते सर्पां दर्वीकराः स्मृताः रथाङ्गलाङ्गलच्छत्रस्वस्तिकाङ्कुशधारिणः
vyantarā doṣamiśrāste sarpāṃ darvīkarāḥ smṛtāḥ rathāṅgalāṅgalacchatrasvastikāṅkuśadhāriṇaḥ
Ces Vyantaras présentent des défauts (moraux) mêlés ; parmi les serpents, on se souvient d’eux comme de la classe Darvīkara, portant les emblèmes de la roue de char (cakra), de la charrue, de l’ombrelle, de la svastika et de l’aiguillon (aṅkuśa).
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Identifying a specific serpent-class (Darvīkara) within mixed-nature Vyantaras by their emblematic marks; used for taxonomy in bhūta/being catalogues and omen-like recognition lore.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vyantara–Darvīkara Serpents and Their Emblems","lookup_keywords":["Vyantara","Darvīkara","rathāṅga","svastika","aṅkuśa"],"quick_summary":"Describes a mixed-defect class of beings (Vyantaras) remembered among serpents as Darvīkaras, distinguished by carrying/marked with specific emblems. Functions as an identification key within supernatural taxonomy."}
Concept: Liminal beings are recognized through lakṣaṇa (signs/emblems); moral-mixture (doṣa-miśra) is a category in cosmological ethics.
Application: Use emblem-lists as a recognition schema in narrative, ritual cautionary contexts, and iconographic depiction.
Khanda Section: Cosmology & Supernatural Beings (Yaksha–Rakshasa–Naga classifications / Bhuta-vidya style taxonomy)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Cosmic-Region
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A liminal serpent-being cohort labeled Darvīkara, each displaying symbolic emblems: wheel, plough, parasol, svastika, and goad, suggesting a heraldic system.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dark-liminal background, serpent-beings with human-like torsos and hoods, each holding one emblem (wheel, plough, parasol, svastika banner, goad), bold outlines, ritual intensity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, icon-like Darvīkara serpent figure with gold halo, surrounding emblem medallions in embossed gold (rathāṅga, lāṅgala, chatra, svastika, aṅkuśa), rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean didactic illustration of five emblem variants, each serpent-being neatly posed with its attribute, fine detailing and readable symbols.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a scholar-cataloguer observing serpent-beings in a garden-cave threshold, each with distinct emblem, intricate textile patterns, precise symbolic rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: doṣamiśrās te = doṣamiśrāḥ + te; sarpāṃ = sarpān (anusvāra orthography); rathāṅga- = ratha + aṅga; -cchatra- = chatra (sandhi doubling).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: bhūta/yakṣa/rākṣasa/nāga varga-nirūpaṇa passages; lakṣaṇa-based catalogues
FAQs
It gives a diagnostic taxonomy: how to identify a specific serpent-class (Darvīkara) associated with Vyantaras by their characteristic insignia (wheel, plough, parasol, svastika, goad).
It functions like a catalog entry—classifying non-human beings and listing their identifying emblems—showing the Purana’s compendium-style coverage of cosmology, iconography, and mythic zoology.
By marking these beings as doṣa-miśra (fault-mixed), the verse frames them as spiritually ambivalent; recognizing such categories supports discernment in Puranic cosmology and cautions against indiscriminate association with morally mixed entities.