Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 1
Chapter 366 — सामान्यनामलिङ्गानि
Common Noun-Forms and Their Grammatical Genders
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे क्षत्रविट्शीद्रवर्गा माम पञ्चषष्ट्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ षट्षष्ट्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः सामान्यनामलिङ्गानि अग्निर् उवाच सामान्यान्य् अथ वक्ष्यामि नामलिङ्गानि तच्छृणु सुकृती पुण्यवान् ध्नयो महेच्छस्तु महाशयः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe kṣatraviṭśīdravargā māma pañcaṣaṣṭyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ṣaṭṣaṣṭyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sāmānyanāmaliṅgāni agnir uvāca sāmānyāny atha vakṣyāmi nāmaliṅgāni tacchṛṇu sukṛtī puṇyavān dhnayo mahecchastu mahāśayaḥ
かくして『アグニ・マハープラーナ』において、刹帝利・吠舎・首陀羅の諸 वर्ग（階類）を説く第365章は終わる。ここに第366章「一般名詞の語形と（その）文法上の性」が始まる。アグニは言った。「いま一般名詞の語形とその性を説こう。福徳ある者よ、聴け—『徳ある者』『功徳ある者』『幸いなる者／祝福された者』『大いなる志を抱く者』『高雅な心の者』等である。」
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Grammatical training: identifying common nouns/adjectives and their genders/usage for correct speech, composition, and interpretation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Nāmaliṅgānuśāsana opening: common nouns and genders","lookup_keywords":["nāmaliṅga","sāmānya-nāma","liṅga-anuśāsana","sukṛtī","mahāśaya"],"quick_summary":"Introduces a new section teaching common noun/adjective forms and grammatical genders, beginning with exemplars like ‘sukṛtī’ and ‘mahāśaya’—a kośa-grammar bridge for learners."}
Concept: Discipline of language (vyākaraṇa) as an auxiliary science enabling accurate understanding of dharma and other vidyās.
Application: Learners apply gender and form rules to avoid interpretive errors in ritual, law, and literature.
Khanda Section: Vyakarana / Shabda-shastra (Nāmaliṅgānuśāsana: common nouns and grammatical genders)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni as teacher (or a sage representing Agni’s discourse) begins a grammar lesson, with a palm-leaf manuscript titled ‘nāmaliṅgāni’; students listen as exemplar words are written on a board/leaf.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Agni-deva or sage with fiery aura seated as ācārya, palm-leaf manuscript, students in attentive posture, decorative script band: sukṛtī puṇyavān dhanyaḥ mahāśayaḥ; warm reds and ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Agni with gold halo and flames, holding manuscript, students with folded hands, ornate arch and gold leaf, manuscript title ‘Sāmānya-nāmaliṅga’.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, classroom-like gurukula scene, neat callout boxes showing words and gender markers, fine lines and soft colors, emphasis on pedagogy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly with manuscripts and inkpots, central teacher with flame motif subtly indicating Agni, calligraphic panels listing exemplar adjectives, detailed textiles and carpet."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् → इति; महापुराणे (समास); पञ्चषष्ट्यधिकत्रिशततमो → पञ्च + षष्टि + अधिक + त्रिशततमः; ‘ऽध्यायः’ → अध्यायः; अग्निर् → अग्निः; सामान्यान्य् → सामान्यानि; तच्छृणु → तत् + शृणु; mahecchastu → महेच्छः + तु. ‘माम’ in the provided text appears as a scribal/colophon artifact; not analyzed as a standard pada.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 365 (preceding kośa-like lists); Agni Purana 366 (continuation of nāmaliṅgānuśāsana entries)
FAQs
It introduces śabda-śāstra/vyākaraṇa content: a lesson on common noun-forms and their grammatical genders (nāma-liṅga), preparing the reader for correct Sanskrit usage.
By shifting from social classification (varṇa-related material) to linguistic science (noun-gender and lexicon), it demonstrates the Agni Purana’s wide scope—treating grammar and terminology alongside dharma and social topics.
The verse frames linguistic correctness with ethical qualifiers (sukṛtī, puṇyavān, dhanyaḥ), implying that disciplined learning and right speech are aligned with merit (puṇya) and cultivated character.