Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 48
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
पञ्चालिका पुत्रिका स्याद्वर्करस्तरुणः पशुः मञ्जूषा पेटकः पेडा तुल्यसाधारणौ समौ प्रतिमा स्यात् प्रतिकृतिर्वर्गा ब्रह्मादयः स्मृताः
pañcālikā putrikā syādvarkarastaruṇaḥ paśuḥ mañjūṣā peṭakaḥ peḍā tulyasādhāraṇau samau pratimā syāt pratikṛtirvargā brahmādayaḥ smṛtāḥ
‘पञ्चालिका’ला ‘पुत्रिका’ (बाहुली/मूर्ती) असेही म्हणतात. ‘वर्कर’ म्हणजे तरुण पशु. संदूक ‘मञ्जूषा’, ‘पेटक’ किंवा ‘पेडा’ असा होतो. ‘तुल्य’ व ‘साधारण’ हे ‘सम’ (समान) याचे पर्याय. ‘प्रतिमा’ला ‘प्रतिकृति’ म्हणतात. ‘वर्गाः’ म्हणजे ब्रह्मा इत्यादी देवसमूह.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Kośa-based synonym knowledge for poets, commentators, and ritual/temple documentation (e.g., naming images, objects, and categories).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Synonyms: doll, young animal, casket, equality terms, image/replica, and ‘vargāḥ’ (groups)","lookup_keywords":["pañcālikā putrikā","mañjūṣā peṭaka peḍā","tulya sama sādhāraṇa","pratimā pratikṛti","vargāḥ brahmādayaḥ"],"quick_summary":"Provides compact synonym sets for common objects and abstract terms, including ‘pratimā/pratikṛti’ (image/replica) and ‘vargāḥ’ as deity-groups like Brahmā and others—useful for precise diction and cataloging."}
Alamkara Type: Paryāyokti (synonymic expression)
Concept: Systematizing worldly knowledge through naming, equivalence, and grouping (varga).
Application: Supports education, lexicography, and technical documentation (e.g., temple inventories listing pratimā/pratikṛti; storage items like mañjūṣā/peṭaka).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Lexicography / Synonyms and semantic equivalences)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lexicon lesson illustrated with objects: a doll/figurine, a young calf, ornate caskets, and a sculptor presenting an image (pratimā) as a replica (pratikṛti); a small panel shows deity-groups (Brahmā and others) labeled as varga.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented didactic panels: putrikā doll, young animal, ornate casket, sculptor with pratimā, and a small divine assembly (Brahmā with other deities) marked vargāḥ; bold outlines, warm palette, script bands of synonyms.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central sculptor holding pratimā with gold-leaf highlights, surrounding vignettes of jeweled caskets and doll, small upper register of Brahmā and deities as a group, heavy ornament and gilded borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean labeled illustrations of each synonym set in cartouches, fine brushwork, emphasis on clarity: mañjūṣā/peṭaka/peḍā shown as variants; pratimā/pratikṛti shown with artisan tools.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with sculptor and patrons, still-life arrangement of caskets and doll, marginal calligraphy listing synonyms, small celestial vignette of Brahmā and other deities grouped as varga."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्याद्वर्करः → स्यात् + वर्करः; तुल्यसाधारणौ → तुल्य + साधारणौ (here treated as dvandva); प्रतिकृतिर्वर्गाः → प्रतिकृतिः + वर्गाः; ब्रह्मादयः → ब्रह्म + आदयः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 365 (Śabda-kośa synonym lists); Agni Purana Shilpa-related chapters (pratimā terminology in iconography sections, elsewhere in the text)
FAQs
It imparts nighaṇṭu-style lexical knowledge: authoritative synonym-pairs and equivalent terms (e.g., mañjūṣā/peṭaka/peḍā; pratimā/pratikṛti) used in learned writing and poetic composition.
By preserving standardized Sanskrit vocabulary lists and synonymy, it functions like a compact thesaurus/lexicon embedded within the Purana—supporting literature, scholarship, and precise terminology alongside ritual and dharma topics.
Indirectly, it supports dharmic learning: correct understanding and usage of sacred/learned language (śāstra-vyavahāra) is treated as meritorious study, enabling accurate transmission of teachings and ritual descriptions.