Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 33
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
काकोडुम्बरिका फल्गुररिष्टः पिचुमर्दकः सर्वतोभद्रको निम्बे शिरीषस्तु कपीतनः
kākoḍumbarikā phalgurariṣṭaḥ picumardakaḥ sarvatobhadrako nimbe śirīṣastu kapītanaḥ
काकोडुम्बरिका आणि फल्गु; अरिष्ट; पिचुमर्दक; तसेच निम्ब (कडुनिंब) यास ‘सर्वतोभद्रक’ असे नाव आहे; आणि शिरीष यास ‘कपीतन’ असेही म्हणतात.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Synonym mapping for specific medicinal trees/plants including nimba (neem) and śirīṣa; prevents confusion in therapeutic and ritual-medical usage.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nimba (Neem) and Śirīṣa Synonyms; Related Plant Names","lookup_keywords":["Nimba","Sarvatobhadra","Śirīṣa","Kapītana","Picumardaka"],"quick_summary":"States alternate names for nimba (as sarvatobhadra) and śirīṣa (as kapītana), alongside other plant entries; supports accurate reading of recipes and regional nomenclature."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Right designation (saṃjñā) safeguards right action (pravṛtti) in applied sciences.
Application: Reduce clinical risk from homonyms and regional plant-name drift.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Dravyaguṇa / Nighaṇṭu-style materia medica)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A neem tree and a śirīṣa tree shown side-by-side with labeled synonym plaques: nimba/sarvatobhadra and śirīṣa/kapītana; a physician points while students take notes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two stylized trees with distinct canopies, teacher-vaidya gesturing, students with palm-leaf manuscripts, labels in bold script for nimba and śirīṣa synonyms, flat decorative background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, symmetrical composition with neem and śirīṣa framed like sacred motifs, gold-leaf highlights on leaves and manuscript, ornate border, rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional botanical comparison plate, neat labels (nimba=sarvatobhadra; śirīṣa=kapītana), fine linework, soft shading, classroom-like setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, garden scene with two trees, scholar-physician teaching, attendants holding labeled specimens (leaves/bark), delicate calligraphy and detailed foliage."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: phalgurariṣṭaḥ resolved as phalguḥ ariṣṭaḥ (juxtaposed list); śirīṣastu → śirīṣaḥ tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (Nighaṇṭu-style synonym catalog)
FAQs
Ayurvedic dravyaguṇa knowledge: the verse lists medicinal plant names and synonym-equivalences (especially identifying alternate names used for Nimba and Śirīṣa), aiding correct identification for formulation and therapy.
It functions like a nighaṇṭu (Ayurvedic glossary), preserving multiple regional/technical names for the same drug-plants—an essential reference layer alongside the Purana’s ritual, dharma, and scientific topics.
Accurate identification of medicinal substances supports dharmic care of the body (a means for sustaining sādhana and duty); using correctly known herbs is traditionally viewed as reducing harm and promoting sattva through proper healing.