Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 35
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
त्रिंशाधिके द्वे शते तु अन्तराधौ तु सप्ततिः ऊर्ध्वगाः षट्शतान्येव शाखास्तु कथितानि तु
triṃśādhike dve śate tu antarādhau tu saptatiḥ ūrdhvagāḥ ṣaṭśatānyeva śākhāstu kathitāni tu
Dans l’ensemble compté à deux cent trente, au sein du décompte intermédiaire il y en a soixante-dix; et, dans le décompte supérieur, il est dit que les branches (śākhā) sont exactement six cents.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Scriptural cataloguing/śākhā enumeration used for organizing Vedic learning lineages and textual transmission; supports curriculum planning and tradition mapping.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śākhā-saṅkhyā (branch enumeration)","lookup_keywords":["śākhā","veda-śākhā","saṅkhyā","śāstra-catalogue","pāṭha-paramparā"],"quick_summary":"Provides a numerical catalogue of śākhās (branches/recensions), serving as a mnemonic index for the breadth of scriptural traditions."}
Concept: Recognition of śāstra-vistāra (vastness of learned traditions) and the need for systematic cataloguing.
Application: Helps a learner situate one’s own śākhā/recension within a larger map of textual lineages.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vedic Corpus, Shakha Enumeration, and Scriptural Cataloguing)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A library-like scene: palm-leaf bundles labeled as different śākhās stacked in tiers, with a scholar counting and recording totals.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: vidyāsthāna interior with palm-leaf manuscripts in niches; scholar with stylus counting bundles; decorative script labels; earthy tones and stylized architecture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gilded manuscript bundles arranged symmetrically; central Sarasvatī-like scholarly ambience (without explicit deity if desired), gold leaf highlighting labels and numbers; rich maroon background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional catalog chart with columns of counts; scholar writing on palm leaf; clean composition, soft colors, emphasis on legibility of numbers and headings.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: kitabkhana (library) setting with shelves of manuscripts; munshi tallying counts; fine border work; calligraphy panels showing ‘śākhā’ and numerals."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: triṃśādhike = triṃśat + ādhike; ṣaṭśatāni = ṣaṭ + śatāni; ṣaṭśatānyeva = ṣaṭśatāni + eva; śākhāstu = śākhāḥ + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana encyclopedic cataloguing portions across vidyās (general pattern of gaṇanā lists)
FAQs
It imparts a technical, archival enumeration of Vedic śākhās (recensional branches), giving specific numerical totals used for classifying and remembering the breadth of Vedic transmission.
By recording structured counts of Vedic branches, it functions like a catalog entry—preserving metadata about the scriptural corpus (how many recensions are recognized), which is characteristic of the Agni Purana’s compendium-style coverage of many disciplines.
Honoring and accurately preserving the Vedic śākhā tradition is treated as dharmic stewardship: it supports right learning (śruti-smṛti continuity) and strengthens merit through reverence to authentic scriptural lineages.