Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 32
Chapter 360 — अव्ययवर्गाः
Groups of Indeclinables
संवद्वर्षे ऽवरे त्वर्वागामेवं स्वयमात्मना अल्पे नीचैर् महत्युच्चैः प्रायोभूम्न्य् अद्रुते शनैः
saṃvadvarṣe 'vare tvarvāgāmevaṃ svayamātmanā alpe nīcair mahatyuccaiḥ prāyobhūmny adrute śanaiḥ
年の循環においては、劣位の（低い）段階が先に現れ、ついで自らの本性によりこのように進む。量が小さいときは低く進み、量が大きいときは高く昇る—おおむね地上をゆるやかに、急激さなく運行する。
Lord Agni (in dialogue-format instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical of Agni Purāṇa’s didactic chapters)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Understanding gradual annual/seasonal variation in celestial motion for calendrics (kāla-nirṇaya), predicting apparent north–south shift and altitude changes used in ritual timing and agricultural planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Gradual annual progression of celestial measure (low when small, high when great)","lookup_keywords":["saṃvatsara","kāla-nirṇaya","ucchaiḥ-nīcaiḥ","śanaiḥ gati","krama-vṛddhi"],"quick_summary":"The verse characterizes yearly motion as naturally gradual: when the measure is small it stays low, when great it rises high, moving slowly without abrupt jumps—useful for practical calendric reckoning."}
Concept: Nature’s processes proceed by krama (gradual progression) rather than sudden discontinuity.
Application: Adopt incremental observation and correction in time-reckoning; avoid forcing abrupt adjustments against observed regularity.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha / Kala-nirṇaya (Astronomical time-reckoning and calendrics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic sky-dome over the earth showing a celestial body’s path gradually rising higher when its measure increases and dipping lower when it decreases, marked across the yearly cycle.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep mineral colors, circular mandala-like sky over Bhū-devī, a luminous graha moving on a smooth arc that rises and falls across seasons, annotated with Sanskrit labels ucchaiḥ and nīcaiḥ, traditional ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights, stylized earth and zodiac band, a graha on a golden arc rising high and dipping low, rich reds and greens, temple-like framing, small Devanagari captions for saṃvatsara and śanaiḥ.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional diagram aesthetic: earth at center, yearly arc paths in two heights, small callouts for alpam/nīcaiḥ and mahat/ucchaiḥ, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing and pastel sky, astronomer-sage pointing to a chart showing a smooth rising and falling trajectory over months, delicate borders, Persianate palette but with Sanskrit marginal notes."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संवद्वर्षे = saṃvat-varṣe (अव्ययीभाव). ऽवरे = avare. त्वर्वागामेवं = tu + arvāk + āma + evaṃ (पदच्छेदः अनुमानितः). प्रायोभूम्न्य् = prāyaḥ + bhūmni. अद्रुते = a-drute (नञ्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 360 (Jyotiṣa/kāla-nirṇaya section)
FAQs
It conveys Jyotiṣa-style time/astronomy reasoning: celestial or temporal measures vary by phase—small measures correspond to a ‘lower’ course and larger measures to a ‘higher’ course—characterized as gradual, non-abrupt motion.
By treating calendrics and observational astronomy (yearly cycles, relative ‘low/high’ courses, gradual motion), the text extends beyond mythology into technical knowledge used for calendars, seasonal rites, and timing of rituals.
Accurate understanding of time-cycles supports correct ritual timing (kāla-śuddhi), which traditional dharma literature treats as essential for the efficacy and merit (puṇya) of rites performed in harmony with cosmic order.