Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 61
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
कर्चुरको द्राविडको गन्धमूली शठी स्मृता स्यद्दृक्षगन्धा छगलान्त्रा वेगी वृद्धदारकः
karcurako drāviḍako gandhamūlī śaṭhī smṛtā syaddṛkṣagandhā chagalāntrā vegī vṛddhadārakaḥ
Śaṭhī（芳香ある薬用の根茎）は、Karcuraka、Drāviḍaka、Gandhamūlī、Dṛkṣagandhā、Chagalāntrā、Vegī、Vṛddhadārakaという名でも知られる。
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Provides synonym equivalence for Śaṭhī to ensure correct drug selection (especially for aromatic rhizomes prone to substitution/adulteration).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Śaṭhī-dravya paryāyas (Karcuraka etc.)","lookup_keywords":["Śaṭhī","Karcuraka","Gandhamūlī","Drāviḍaka","Vṛddhadāraka"],"quick_summary":"States that Śaṭhī is known by multiple names; use these to reconcile regional and textual variants and avoid dispensing the wrong aromatic root."}
Concept: Pramāṇa in applied science: correct designation and verification precede effective therapy.
Application: Adopt multi-factor verification (name + sensory traits + source) for materia medica quality control.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Nighaṇṭu / Materia Medica: Synonyms of medicinal plants and drugs)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close-up of a fragrant rhizome being examined; a vaidya compares two similar roots, selecting the correct Śaṭhī while reading a synonym list.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, physician holding a rhizome to smell, assistant presenting labeled samples Karcuraka/Śaṭhī, stylized forest backdrop, traditional flat shading and ornamental vines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold detailing on medicine box and manuscript, central rhizome highlighted, labels of paryāyas around, rich red-green palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional comparison of rhizomes with fine outlines and annotations, calm scholarly mood, palm-leaf text showing the synonym chain","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, botanically detailed rhizomes on a tray, physician and merchant negotiating identification, delicate border motifs, precise labeling"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syaddṛkṣagandhā = syāt + dṛkṣagandhā (t/d sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (series of paryāya verses for dravyas)
FAQs
Ayurvedic nighaṇṭu-vidyā: it teaches the synonym-list used to identify the medicinal drug Śaṭhī across regions and textual traditions.
By cataloging multiple vernacular and technical names for a single medicinal substance, it functions like a pharmacological glossary—supporting accurate drug identification for formulations and therapy.
Indirectly, correct identification of medicinal substances supports dharmic healing and preservation of life (ārogya), a valued puruṣārtha-supporting outcome in Purāṇic instruction.