Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 34
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
वकुलो वञ्जुलः प्रोक्तः पिच्छिलागुरुशिंशपाः जया जयन्ती तर्कारी कणिका गणिकारिका
vakulo vañjulaḥ proktaḥ picchilāguruśiṃśapāḥ jayā jayantī tarkārī kaṇikā gaṇikārikā
ヴァクラ（Vakula）はまたヴァンジュラ（Vaṅjula）とも称され、さらにピッチラー（Picchilā）、アグル（Aguru）、シンシャパー（Śiṃśapā）、ジャヤー（Jayā）、ジャヤンティー（Jayantī）、タルカーリー（Tarkārī）、カニカー（Kaṇikā）、ガニカーリカー（Gaṇikārikā）などの名でも知られる。
Lord Agni (narrating the encyclopedic teachings of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Correct identification of dravyas in prescriptions by mapping regional/alternate plant names to a single accepted materia-medica entry.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vakula and allied dravya-synonyms (nighaṇṭu-pada)","lookup_keywords":["vakula","vañjula","pichchila","aguru","śiṃśapā"],"quick_summary":"Gives synonym-clusters used in nighaṇṭu tradition so a physician can reconcile different names found in recipes, local speech, and earlier texts."}
Concept: Śabda–artha-saṃbandha (name–substance linkage) as a prerequisite for correct cikitsā.
Application: Avoid substitution errors (abhāva/pratinidhi-bhrānti) by standardizing synonyms before preparing medicines.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Nighaṇṭu / Dravyaguṇa—synonyms of medicinal plants and materia medica)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An Ayurvedic vaidya in a forest-herbarium setting points to labeled plant specimens while a scribe records multiple synonyms for each dravya on palm leaves.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, vaidya with palm-leaf manuscript, herb specimens arranged in rows, Sanskrit labels for synonyms, flat decorative foliage, traditional borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated vaidya with halo-like arch, gold-leaf accents on manuscript and herb containers, rich jewel tones, stylized plants labeled with vakula/vañjula etc.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional tableau of herb identification with neat labels and a scribe, soft shading, minimal background, emphasis on clarity of specimens.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed botanical study with multiple plant sprigs, a scholar-physician dictating synonyms to a munshi, delicate margins, naturalistic flora."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No major external sandhi; compound ‘पिच्छिलागुरुशिंशपाः’ treated as a dvandva list of names.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (Nighaṇṭu/Dravyaguṇa synonym lists)
FAQs
Ayurvedic nighaṇṭu-vidyā: it provides alternate Sanskrit names (synonyms) for a medicinal plant/tree (Vakula), aiding correct identification in formulations and therapeutic usage.
It exemplifies the Purana’s catalog-style transmission of practical sciences by preserving pharmacological nomenclature—multiple regional/semantic names for the same drug—so physicians and ritual specialists can match ingredients across traditions.
Accurate identification of medicinal substances supports dharma through proper healing and correct ritual/therapeutic practice; preventing error in drugs is treated as a form of non-harm (ahiṃsā) and right conduct.