Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 24
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
काकतिन्दौ पीलुकः स्यात् पाटलिर्मोक्षमुष्ककौ क्रमुकः पट्टिकाख्यः स्यात्कुम्भी कैटर्यकट्फले
kākatindau pīlukaḥ syāt pāṭalirmokṣamuṣkakau kramukaḥ paṭṭikākhyaḥ syātkumbhī kaiṭaryakaṭphale
પીલુકને ‘કાકતિન્દુ’ પણ કહે છે. પાટલી ‘મોક્ષમુષ્કક’ નામે પણ પ્રસિદ્ધ છે. ક્રમુક ‘પટ્ટિકા’ કહેવાય છે. તેમજ ‘કૈટર્ય’ અને ‘કટ્ફલ’ને ‘કુમ્ભી’ પણ કહે છે.
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Correct identification of dravyas in prescriptions by mapping regional/alternate plant names to a single medicinal substance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nighaṇṭu-synonyms: Pīluka, Pāṭalī, Kramuka, Kumbhī","lookup_keywords":["Pīluka","Kākatindu","Pāṭalī Mokṣamuṣka","Kramuka Paṭṭikā","Kumbhī Kaiṭarya Kaṭphala"],"quick_summary":"This verse gives synonym-equivalences used in Ayurvedic materia medica so a physician can avoid substitution errors when sourcing herbs across regions and dialects."}
Concept: Śabda–artha-niyama (fixing meaning through accepted synonymy) for reliable practice.
Application: Standardize terminology between teacher, text, and apothecary to prevent wrong-drug administration.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Nighaṇṭu (Materia Medica: plant synonyms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An Ayurvedic vaidya and a forest-collector compare labeled bundles of herbs, matching alternate names on palm-leaf tags to the same plant specimens.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat earthy palette, vaidya with palm-leaf manuscript, herb bundles labeled Pīluka/Kākatindu, Pāṭalī/Mokṣamuṣka, Kramuka/Paṭṭikā, Kumbhī/Kaiṭarya/Kaṭphala, forest backdrop, clean linework","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated vaidya holding palm-leaf nighaṇṭu, gold-leaf highlights on herb bundles and brass vessels, inscriptions of synonym pairs, rich reds and greens, devotional yet instructional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate shading, instructional tableau of apothecary sorting herbs into trays with synonym labels, palm-leaf manuscript open, precise botanical detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly physician in a garden pavilion, attendants presenting herb specimens with written synonym tags, fine botanical rendering, patterned textiles, marginal notes of names"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यात्कुम्भी = स्यात् + कुम्भी; पाटलिर्मोक्षमुष्ककौ = पाटलिः + मोक्षमुष्ककौ; कैटर्यकट्फले treated as itaretara-dvandva (two names).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (Ayurveda/Nighaṇṭu section: dravya-nāma-paryāya lists)
FAQs
Ayurvedic nighaṇṭu-vidyā: it teaches synonymy (paryāya) of medicinal plants so physicians and readers can correctly identify the same drug under different regional or textual names.
By cataloging materia medica and cross-referencing plant names, the Agni Purana functions like a compendium—preserving practical medical-lexical knowledge alongside theology, ritual, and other sciences.
Accurate identification of medicinal substances supports dharmic care of the body (a means for sādhana and duty); correct knowledge prevents harmful errors and enables righteous healing service (puṇya through upakāra).