Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 7
Chapter 363: नृब्रह्मक्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
Groups of terms for Men, Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
गर्भो भ्रुण इमौ तुल्यौ क्लीवं शण्डो नपुंसकम् स्यादुत्तानशया डिम्भा बालो माणवकः स्मृतः
garbho bhruṇa imau tulyau klīvaṃ śaṇḍo napuṃsakam syāduttānaśayā ḍimbhā bālo māṇavakaḥ smṛtaḥ
‘ಗರ್ಭ’ ಮತ್ತು ‘ಭ್ರೂಣ’—ಇವು ಸಮಾನಾರ್ಥಕ ಪದಗಳು. ‘ಕ್ಲೀಬ’, ‘ಶಂಡ’, ‘ನಪುಂಸಕ’—ಸಂತಾನೋತ್ಪತ್ತಿಗೆ ಅಸಮರ್ಥ ಪುರುಷನ ಸೂಚಕಗಳು. ಬೆನ್ನತ್ತ ಮಲಗಿರುವ ಶಿಶು ‘ಡಿಂಭ’; ‘ಬಾಲ’ನು ‘ಮಾಣವಕ’ (ಕುಮಾರ) ಎಂದು ಸ್ಮರಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic definitions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Standardizes synonymy for embryology and for social/medical categories (eunuch/impotent), and age/posture terms for infants—useful in diagnosis, legal description, and narrative clarity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Synonyms: Garbha–Bhruṇa; Klība–Śaṇḍa–Napuṁsaka; Ḍimbha–Bāla–Māṇavaka","lookup_keywords":["garbha","bhruṇa","klība","napuṁsaka","ḍimbha"],"quick_summary":"Gives equivalences for fetus terms, non-procreative male categories, and child-stage descriptors, enabling consistent technical and social description."}
Concept: Nāma-bheda-jñāna (knowledge of name-variants) supports accurate vyavahāra (practical discourse).
Application: When reading medical/legal texts, map variant terms (e.g., garbha/bhruṇa; klība/napuṁsaka) to a single referent to avoid misinterpretation.
Khanda Section: Vyakarana & Kosha (Lexicography / Synonyms and technical vocabulary)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lexicon lesson: a fetus depicted in a womb vignette labeled garbha/bhruṇa; a separate panel showing categories klība/śaṇḍa/napuṁsaka as symbolic figures; and an infant lying supine labeled ḍimbha, with a child labeled bāla/māṇavaka.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented narrative panels with Sanskrit labels; stylized womb with fetus; a symbolic trio for klība-śaṇḍa-napuṁsaka shown as archetypal figures; infant on back (ḍimbha) and a young boy (māṇavaka); bold outlines, flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold highlights on borders and labels; central guru with manuscript; side medallions: garbha/bhruṇa womb icon, infant ḍimbha posture, and bāla/māṇavaka child; ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition; clear callouts and gentle shading; emphasis on posture of ḍimbha (supine) and comparative labeling of garbha/bhruṇa.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a scholarly atelier; marginal illustrations: anatomical womb sketch and child studies; fine script labels; subdued palette and intricate floral border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यादुत्तानशया = स्यात् + उत्तानशयाः (त् + उ → दु); (पाठे) उत्तानशया इति बहुवचन-रूपं (उत्तानशयाः) ग्रहणीयम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 363 (synonym lists for body, disease, and social categories)
FAQs
This verse imparts lexicographic/semantic knowledge: it defines precise Sanskrit synonyms for embryo/fetus (garbha/bhruṇa), terms for sexual incapacity/eunuch (klība/śaṇḍa/napuṁsaka), and age-based child terms (ḍimbha, bāla, māṇavaka).
By cataloging standardized definitions and near-synonyms, it functions like a compact kosa (glossary), supporting accurate usage in dharma, medicine, law, and literature—one hallmark of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging, encyclopedic coverage.
Its significance is indirect: correct terminology and clear meaning prevent misunderstanding in sacred learning and applied disciplines, supporting right knowledge (samyag-jñāna) and accurate transmission of dharma-oriented instruction.