Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 12
Chapter 366 — सामान्यनामलिङ्गानि
Common Noun-Forms and Their Grammatical Genders
विहिस्तव्याकुलौ तुल्यौ नृशंसक्रूरघातुकाः पापो धूर्तो वञ्चकः स्यान्मूर्खे वैदेहवालिशौ
vihistavyākulau tulyau nṛśaṃsakrūraghātukāḥ pāpo dhūrto vañcakaḥ syānmūrkhe vaidehavāliśau
‘വിഹിസ്റ്റ’യും ‘ആകുല’യും സമാനാർത്ഥകങ്ങൾ. ‘നൃശംസ’, ‘ക്രൂര’, ‘ഘാതുക’ എന്നീ പദങ്ങൾ കരുണയില്ലാത്ത ക്രൂരഹന്താവിനെ സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. ‘പാപ’, ‘ധൂർത്ത’, ‘വഞ്ചക’ പാപി, കപടൻ, വഞ്ചകൻ എന്നർത്ഥത്തിൽ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു. മൂഢനായി ‘വൈദേഹ’യും ‘വാലിശ’യും എന്ന പദങ്ങൾ പറയുന്നു.
Lord Agni (instructional narration to Vasiṣṭha, in the encyclopedic/śāstra section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Supplies synonym sets for mental states (confused/agitated), moral character (ruthless/killer; sinful/rogue/deceiver), and intellectual deficiency (fool), enabling precise ethical and narrative characterization in literature and discourse.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Synonyms: agitation; cruelty/killer; sinful/rogue/deceiver; fool","lookup_keywords":["ākula","nṛśaṃsa","ghātuka","vañcaka","vāliśa"],"quick_summary":"Defines interchangeable terms for agitation, cruelty and killing, deceitful sinfulness, and foolishness—supporting accurate moral coloring and character depiction."}
Concept: Moral discernment through language: naming vice (cruelty, deceit, sin) and cognitive failing (mūḍhatā) to guide social-ethical judgment.
Application: In teaching and self-review, identify and avoid behaviors labeled nṛśaṃsa/krūra/vañcaka; cultivate steadiness opposite of ākulatā and seek learning to overcome vāliśatā.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Lexicography / Synonyms and Semantic Equivalence)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bībhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Four moral-psychological vignettes: a confused agitated person (ākula), a ruthless killer (ghātuka) with harsh demeanor, a deceiver (vañcaka) hiding intent, and a foolish person (vāliśa) making an error; a scholar labels each with synonym sets.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented narrative panels with bold expressions: ākula figure in turmoil, krūra/ghātuka with dark fierce eyes, vañcaka with sly sideways glance, vāliśa with puzzled face; scholar inscribing synonyms on palm leaf.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, moral tableau with gold-framed compartments, central dharma-teacher holding manuscript, each compartment showing the vice-type, rich ornamentation and gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic chart-like scene: four labeled character archetypes with clear gestures, soft colors, emphasis on moral instruction and readability.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court-and-street scenes: agitated man in a crowd, assassin-like cruel figure, trickster exchanging coins, foolish clerk misreading a document; fine detailing, muted palette, calligraphic labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यान्मूर्खे = स्यात् मूर्खे; वैदेहवालिशौ = वैदेह-वालिशौ
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra: kośa lists for ethical and psychological descriptors (chapter 366 context); Agni Purana Dharmic sections on ahiṃsā and satya (thematic linkage)
FAQs
This verse imparts nighaṇṭu/kośa-style lexical knowledge: it lists synonym sets (paryāyas) for states (ākula/vihista) and character-types (nṛśaṃsa/krūra/ghātuka; pāpa/dhūrta/vañcaka; mūrkha = vaideha/vāliśa).
By functioning like a compact Sanskrit thesaurus within the Purāṇa, it preserves semantic equivalences useful for poetry (kāvya), commentary, and precise diction—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond ritual into language-science and literature.
Indirectly, it sharpens ethical discernment by naming traits like cruelty, deceit, and sin with precise vocabulary—supporting dharma-oriented reflection and correct moral categorization in teaching and discourse.