Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 5
Chapter 245 — रत्नपरीक्षा
Examination of Gems
धूलीं मरकतञ्चैव तुथकं सीसमेव च पीलुं प्रवालकञ्चैव गिरिवज्रं द्विजोत्तम
dhūlīṃ marakatañcaiva tuthakaṃ sīsameva ca pīluṃ pravālakañcaiva girivajraṃ dvijottama
Wahai dwija yang utama, dhūlī (serbuk halus), marakata, tuthaka (vitriol biru), timbal, pīlu, pravāla (karang), dan girivajra—semuanya juga perlu dikenali.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) addressing a Brahmin sage (dvijottama; often aligned with Vasiṣṭha in reception)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Rasa/dravya inventory for preparing mineral-based formulations (bhasma, piṣṭi, powders) and identifying substances used in therapeutics and ritual-technical contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rasa-dravya list: dhūlī, marakata, tuttha, sīsa, pīlu, pravāla, girivajra","lookup_keywords":["tuttha","sīsa","pravāla","marakata","girivajra"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates mineral and organic dravyas relevant to rasashastra-style materia medica: vitriol (tuttha), lead (sīsa), coral (pravāla), emerald, and hard mineral substances, typically requiring purification before use."}
Concept: Applied knowledge depends on correct dravya selection; potent substances imply the need for saṃskāra (purification/processing) even when not stated.
Application: For practitioners: treat listed minerals as requiring identification, testing, and purification before any medicinal use.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Rasashastra (Materia Medica: minerals, gems, and substances used in formulations)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A rasashastra-style table of substances: blue vitriol, lead ingot, coral branches, emerald, fine powders, and a hard ‘mountain-diamond’ mineral, arranged for cataloging.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, alchemical-apothecary setting: bowls of powders (dhūlī), blue tuttha crystals, dull gray lead, red coral, green emerald, rugged girivajra; warm lamp-lit ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly ornamented still-life with gold leaf: coral and emerald prominent, labeled jars for tuttha and sīsa, priest-physician figure holding a palm-leaf text","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional rasadravya chart: each substance drawn with clarity (tuttha blue crystals, lead bar, coral), annotations and measuring tools, restrained palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed workshop: pharmacist and assistant weighing minerals, grinding powders, coral and emerald on velvet cloth, realistic reflections and textures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: marakatañcaiva → marakatam ca eva; sīsameva → sīsam eva; pravālakañcaiva → pravālakam ca eva; dvijottama is a vocative compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dravya-nirūpaṇa / Ratna-parīkṣā continuation (substance lists)
FAQs
It enumerates rasadravyas (mineral/gem substances)—powdered material, emerald, blue vitriol, lead, pīlu, coral, and a very hard mineral (girivajra)—as items recognized for technical use in medicinal/mineral preparations.
By cataloging specific minerals and gems with technical names (e.g., tuthaka, sīsa, pravālaka), it shows the text functioning as a compendium that preserves practical knowledge of materia medica alongside theology and ritual.
The verse’s primary thrust is practical (listing substances), but within the Purāṇic frame it supports dharmic well-being: maintaining health and effective remedies is treated as aiding righteous living and sustaining ritual and social duties.