Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 20
Chapter 360 — अव्ययवर्गाः
Groups of Indeclinables
स्राग्झटित्यञ्चसाह्नाय सपदि द्राङ्मङ्खु च द्रुते बलवत् सुष्ठु किमुत विकल्पे किं किमूत च
srāgjhaṭityañcasāhnāya sapadi drāṅmaṅkhu ca drute balavat suṣṭhu kimuta vikalpe kiṃ kimūta ca
“Srāk”, “jhaṭiti”, “añca”, dan “sāhnāya” bermakna ‘segera’. “Sapadi”, “drāk”, “maṅkhu”, dan “drute” bermakna ‘seketika/cepat’. “Balavat” berarti ‘dengan kuat’. “Suṣṭhu” berarti ‘dengan baik/tepat’. “Kimuta” dipakai untuk makna a fortiori: ‘apalagi, betapa lebih!’. “Kiṃ” dipakai dalam pilihan/alternatif. “Kimūta” juga dipakai dalam tanya yang menegaskan atau a fortiori.
Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vashistha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Practical vocabulary for speed, force, correctness, and logical emphasis in composition and commentary; helps choose precise indeclinables/adverbs for narrative pacing and argument.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Adverbs/particles for speed, force, propriety, and a fortiori emphasis","lookup_keywords":["jhatiti","sapadi","drak","balavat","kimuta"],"quick_summary":"Gives synonym sets for ‘quickly/at once’ (srāk, jhaṭiti, añca, sāhnāya; sapadi, drāk, maṅkhu, drute), plus balavat = forcibly, suṣṭhu = well, kimuta/kimūta = a fortiori, kiṃ = alternative. Use to tune tempo and logical force."}
Alamkara Type: Vakrokti support via avyaya choice; tvarita-gati (accelerated narration) through adverb selection
Concept: Nuanced particles govern inference (kimuta) and modality (vikalpa via kiṃ), enabling rigorous expression.
Application: In debate/commentary, use kimuta for a fortiori steps; use kiṃ to mark alternatives; in poetry, select speed-adverbs to control pacing.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vyakarana & Shabda-kosha: Synonyms/indeclinables and usage)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher demonstrates pacing: a runner for ‘quickly’, a strong arm for ‘balavat’, a neatly arranged offering for ‘suṣṭhu’, and a debate scene for ‘kimuta/kiṃ’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented instructional tableau: swift messenger mid-stride labeled with quick-adverbs, warrior pushing a door for balavat, artisan aligning items for suṣṭhu, two scholars debating with raised hands for kimuta, bold outlines and warm palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central manuscript with gold-leaf headings ‘tvarita’, ‘bala’, ‘suṣṭhu’, ‘kimuta’, surrounding small vignettes (runner, strongman, orderly ritual tray, debating scholars), ornate gold borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition with icons and captions in Devanagari, emphasis on clarity and fine linework, soft colors, classroom setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, lively court scene: messenger rushing, wrestler exerting force, meticulous attendant arranging objects, scholars in munazara (debate), detailed architecture and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्राग्झटित्यञ्चसाह्नाय → srāk + jhaṭiti + añc + sāhnāya. द्राङ्मङ्खु → drāk + maṅkhu. किमुत → kim + uta. किमूत → kim + ūta/uta (निपात-समासवत् प्रयोग).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 360 (avyaya and nipata usage lists)
FAQs
This verse imparts linguistic vidyā: it catalogues Sanskrit indeclinables and particles, specifying their precise senses (e.g., ‘quickly’, ‘well’, and the a fortiori particle ‘kimuta’) for correct composition and interpretation.
Beyond ritual and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves technical language-knowledge—lists of particles and synonyms—supporting accurate reading of scriptures and refined literary composition, showing its multi-disciplinary, encyclopedic scope.
Mastery of precise word-usage supports correct recitation, understanding, and teaching of sacred texts; such accuracy is traditionally viewed as preserving śāstra, reducing interpretive error, and thereby supporting dharmic merit.