Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 22
Chapter 366 — सामान्यनामलिङ्गानि
Common Noun-Forms and Their Grammatical Genders
स्फातिर्वृद्धौ प्रथा ख्यातौ समाहारः समुच्चयः अपहारस्त्वपचयो विहारस्तु परिक्रमः
sphātirvṛddhau prathā khyātau samāhāraḥ samuccayaḥ apahārastvapacayo vihārastu parikramaḥ
‘സ്ഫാതി’ വർദ്ധനയെ സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. ‘പ്രഥാ’ ഖ്യാതി (പ്രസിദ്ധി) ആണ്. ‘സമാഹാര’ സമാഹാരം/സംഗ്രഹം, അഥവാ സമുച്ചയം. ‘അപഹാര’ അപചയം (കുറവ്) സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. ‘വിഹാര’ പരിക്രമം, അഥവാ ചുറ്റിനടക്കൽ.
Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"A compact semantic glossary for correct word-meaning usage in composition, commentary, and precise communication—useful for students, poets, and editors.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Semantic definitions: sphāti, prathā, samāhāra, apahāra, vihāra","lookup_keywords":["sphati","pratha","samahara","apahara","vihara"],"quick_summary":"Defines key terms by their primary senses: increase, fame, aggregation, decrease, and roaming/perambulation. It functions as a mini-lexicon for accurate usage and interpretation."}
Alamkara Type: Nirvacana (lexical definition)
Concept: Artha-niścaya (fixing meaning) as a prerequisite for right understanding and right expression; semantic discipline prevents interpretive drift.
Application: When reading or composing, apply these fixed senses to avoid ambiguity—e.g., use samāhāra for aggregation, apahāra for diminution, vihāra for perambulation.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Lexicography / Synonyms and semantic definitions)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lexicographer-teacher pointing to a board listing the five terms with their meanings; small symbolic icons: growing plant for sphāti, crowd acclaim for prathā, piled grains for samāhāra, shrinking measure for apahāra, walking path around a shrine for vihāra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, teacher with palm-leaf manuscript, five framed symbols (sprouting plant, praising crowd, heap of grains, diminishing pot, circumambulation around temple), bold outlines and traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central scholar with gold-embossed manuscript, five gold-framed medallions illustrating each meaning, rich jewel tones and ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean educational composition with labeled icons and neat Sanskrit terms, soft colors, emphasis on legibility and didactic clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholar scene with a glossary page, delicate marginal vignettes for each term (growth, fame, collection, decrease, perambulation), fine brushwork and balanced layout"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्फातिर्वृद्धौ = स्फातिः + वृद्धौ; ख्यातौ (सप्तमी) ‘ख्याति’ अर्थे; अपहारस्त्वपचयः = अपहारः + तु + अपचयः; विहारस्तु = विहारः + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra lexical/technical lists; Agni Purana sections that define terms for ritual, cosmography, and poetics (shared encyclopedic method)
FAQs
This verse imparts lexical/semantic knowledge (nighantu-vidya): precise Sanskrit sense-definitions for key terms like sphāti (increase), prathā (renown), samāhāra (collection), apahāra/apacaya (decrease), and vihāra (perambulation).
By preserving compact, technical meaning-equivalences (synonyms and sense-glosses), it functions like a mini-lexicon within the Purana—showing that the Agni Purana includes not only ritual and dharma but also systematic language-knowledge used for literature, interpretation, and scholastic study.
Accurate understanding of words is treated as supportive to right knowledge (samyag-jñāna) and correct recitation/interpretation of sacred texts; such clarity reduces error in study and practice, aiding disciplined learning and meritorious scriptural engagement.