Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 43
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
कटुः कटुम्भरा चाथ चक्राङ्गी शकुलादनी आत्मगुप्ता प्रावृषायी कपिकच्छुश् च मर्कटी
kaṭuḥ kaṭumbharā cātha cakrāṅgī śakulādanī ātmaguptā prāvṛṣāyī kapikacchuś ca markaṭī
‘કટુ’, ‘કટુમ્ભરા’, ‘ચક્રાંગી’, ‘શકુલાદની’, ‘આત્મગુપ્તા’, ‘પ્રાવૃષાયી’, ‘કપિકચ્છુ’ અને ‘મર્કટી’—આ એક જ ઔષધદ્રવ્યના પ્રમાણિત પર્યાયનામો છે।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s encyclopedic Ayurveda section to Sage Vasiṣṭha, per the text’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Clarifies that multiple names (Kaṭu, Kaṭumbharā, Cakrāṅgī, etc.) denote the same drug—critical for safe substitution and correct dispensing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Single dravya with multiple paryāyas: Kaṭu/Kaṭumbharā/Cakrāṅgī/Śakulādanī/Ātmaguptā/Prāvṛṣāyī/Kapikacchu/Markaṭī","lookup_keywords":["Kapikacchu","Ātmaguptā","Cakrāṅgī","Kaṭumbharā","Markaṭī"],"quick_summary":"States a synonym cluster for one medicinal plant/drug (commonly recognized around Kapikacchu/Ātmaguptā usage), enabling consistent identification across texts and regions."}
Concept: Ekatva of dravya despite nāna-nāma (many names): linguistic plurality does not imply material plurality.
Application: In clinical reading, normalize synonyms to a single standardized dispensary name to prevent double-dosing or wrong substitution.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Dravyaguṇa / Nighaṇṭu-style medicinal plant synonyms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A single creeper/plant specimen on a table with many hanging name-tags (Kaṭu, Kapikacchu, Ātmaguptā, etc.), showing ‘one plant—many names’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, one central plant with multiple ribbon labels radiating outward, a vaidya gesturing to show equivalence, decorative border foliage.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central plant framed with gold-leaf rays, multiple small gold name-plaques around it, temple-like symmetry and rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, didactic diagram: one plant illustration with arrows to synonym labels, clean composition, emphasis on clarity and taxonomy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, botanical study with numerous calligraphed captions in the margins, scholar tying tags to the specimen, fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhoopali","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: च + अथ → चाथ; कपिकच्छुश् + च → कपिकच्छुः च (visarga before ca).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (paryāya clusters for dravyas)
FAQs
Ayurvedic dravyaguṇa knowledge: it supplies a synonym-chain (nāmāni) for a medicinal drug—commonly identified with Kapikacchu/Ātmaguptā—so physicians can correctly recognize the plant across regional and textual name-variants.
By cataloging pharmacological nomenclature (multiple classical and vernacular-style names for one drug), the Agni Purana functions like a compact nighaṇṭu (materia medica index), integrating practical medical reference material into a Purāṇic corpus.
Its significance is primarily practical: correct identification of medicinal substances supports dharmic care of the body (ārogya as a support for sādhanā and duty), minimizing harm from misidentification and enabling proper, beneficial treatment.