Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 21
Adhyāya 361 — अव्ययवर्गः
Avyaya-vargaḥ) — The Section on Indeclinables (Colophon/Closure
ग्रावाणौ शैलपाषानौ मूर्खनीचौ पृथग्जनौ तरुशैलौ शिखरिणौ तनुस्त्वग्देहयोरपि
grāvāṇau śailapāṣānau mūrkhanīcau pṛthagjanau taruśailau śikhariṇau tanustvagdehayorapi
‘ग्रावाण’ और ‘शैल-पाषाण’ पत्थर/शिलाखण्ड के नाम हैं। ‘मूर्ख’ और ‘नीच’ तुच्छ बुद्धि वाले/अधम व्यक्ति के लिए आते हैं। ‘पृथग्जन’ सामान्य जनसमुदाय है। ‘तरु’ और ‘शैल’ ‘शिखरिण’ (शिखरयुक्त पर्वत) के पर्याय हैं। ‘तनु’ शब्द त्वचा और देह—दोनों के लिए भी प्रयुक्त होता है।
Lord Agni (teaching, in a lexicon/poetics section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Supports accurate synonym choice in description (stones, mountains, people) and resolves semantic extension (tanu meaning skin/body).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Synonym clusters: stone/mountain terms; social descriptors; tanu as skin/body","lookup_keywords":["grāvāṇa","śaila-pāṣāṇa","pṛthag-jana","śikhariṇ","tanu"],"quick_summary":"Lists equivalent words for stones and mountain-bearing peaks, labels for base foolish persons and common folk, and notes that ‘tanu’ can denote skin or body."}
Concept: Meaning is stabilized by conventional usage (rūḍhi) across domains—natural objects, social categories, and anatomy.
Application: Improves translation and commentary by preventing category errors (e.g., reading tanu only as ‘slender’ when it means ‘skin/body’).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Lexicography / Synonyms: Nighaṇṭu-style)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau: labeled rock and boulder forms (grāvāṇa, śaila-pāṣāṇa), a mountain peak with trees (śikhariṇ), a crowd labeled pṛthag-jana, and an anatomical inset showing skin (tvac) and body (deha) linked to the word tanu.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented panels: stylized rocks and a tree-crowned mountain peak, a procession of common folk, and a simple anatomical inset of skin/body with Sanskrit labels, bold outlines and earthy tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate framed panels with gold borders: mountain peak with trees, textured rocks with gold highlights, a small crowd scene, and a miniature anatomical inset; rich jewel colors","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram aesthetic: clear labeled natural forms and a neat tvac/deha inset, delicate shading, balanced composition for teaching vocabulary","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with landscape: detailed rocky outcrops and a peak with trees, a bustling group of townsfolk, and a marginal anatomical sketch in a cartouche, fine brushwork and pastel washes"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pṛthagjanau = pṛthak-janau; tanustvagdehayorapi = tanuḥ tvag-dehayoḥ api (tvag + dehayoḥ with sandhi g+d -> gd).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 361 (Kośa/Nighaṇṭu entries on common nouns)
FAQs
This verse imparts Śābdika/Sāhitya-vidyā: a technical lexical mapping of Sanskrit synonyms (nighaṇṭu-style), useful for precise reading, composition, and interpretation of śāstra and kāvya.
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana also preserves language-knowledge—synonyms, semantic ranges, and usage—supporting grammar, poetics, and accurate transmission of technical texts, which is a hallmark of its encyclopedic scope.
Mastery of correct meanings and usage safeguards faithful recitation and understanding of scripture; in the Purāṇic view, accurate comprehension supports right conduct (dharma) and reduces errors in study, teaching, and ritual speech.