Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 10
Chapter 347: One-syllable Appellations (एकाक्षराभिधानम्)
फुः फुत्कारे निष्फले च विः पक्षी भञ्च तारके मा श्रीर्मानञ्च माता स्याद्याग यो यातृवीरणे
phuḥ phutkāre niṣphale ca viḥ pakṣī bhañca tārake mā śrīrmānañca mātā syādyāga yo yātṛvīraṇe
«phuḥ» menandakan bunyi desis/hembusan (phutkāra) dan juga sesuatu yang tidak berbuah hasil. «viḥ» bermaksud burung. «bhañ» digunakan bagi bintang/planet. «mā» boleh bermakna Lakṣmī (kemakmuran) dan juga “ibu”. «yāga» menandakan korban suci/ritus persembahan; dan «yaḥ/yo» digunakan pada makna pengembara serta wira dalam pertempuran.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Provides a compact semantic glossary for interjections/particles and roots (phuḥ, viḥ, bhañ, mā, yāga, yaḥ) useful in lexicography, commentary-writing, and poetic diction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śabda-śāstra senses: phuḥ–yaḥ (sound, futility, bird, star, Lakṣmī/mother, sacrifice, traveller/hero)","lookup_keywords":["phuḥ phutkāra","niṣphala","viḥ pakṣī","bhañ tāraka","mā śrī mātā"],"quick_summary":"Maps several forms to their accepted meanings, including onomatopoeia (phuḥ), polysemy (mā as Lakṣmī/mother), and ritual vocabulary (yāga)."}
Alamkara Type: Anuprasa
Concept: Yāga (sacrificial act) as a named dharmic practice; language preserves dharma through precise terms.
Application: Use correct ritual terminology (yāga) in prescriptions and commentaries; recognize polysemy (mā) to avoid misreading devotional/ritual passages.
Khanda Section: Vyakarana / Shabda-shastra (Lexicography & Sanskrit phonetic/semantic notes)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A composite lexicon tableau: a scholar writes ‘phuḥ’ beside a drawn puff of breath (phutkāra) and a withered fruit for ‘niṣphala’; a bird for ‘viḥ’; a star for ‘bhañ’; Lakṣmī and a mother figure for ‘mā’; a small fire-altar scene for ‘yāga’; and a traveller-warrior for ‘yaḥ’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented panels with labeled symbols: breath puff (phuḥ), barren fruit (niṣphala), bird, star, Śrī-Lakṣmī seated on lotus, mother with child, yajña fire-altar, traveller-warrior with staff and shield; earthy tones, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-leaf Lakṣmī central, surrounding medallions for bird, star, yajña altar, hero-traveller; embossed gold accents on flames and halo, rich reds/greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional chart aesthetic with elegant figures and clear labels, subtle shading, focus on readability of each semantic vignette, calm scholarly setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, album-page composition with calligraphy captions, delicate bird and star rendering, refined yajña scene with priests, traveller-hero in landscape, ornate border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic-devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रीर्मानञ्च = श्रीः + मानम् + च; स्याद्याग = स्यात् + यागः. ‘भञ्च’ in source interpreted as ‘भ + च’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 347 (Śabda-śāstra lexical notes); Agni Purana (yajña/yāga related ritual chapters elsewhere)
FAQs
This verse imparts śabda-śāstra (lexicographic/semantic) knowledge: it lists specific Sanskrit particles/words and the conventional senses they convey (sound-words, polysemy, and specialized meanings).
Alongside rituals and dharma, the Agni Purana also preserves technical learning like grammar and word-meaning (nirukti). This verse exemplifies that breadth by functioning like a compact glossary of specialized semantic usages.
By clarifying correct meanings and usages, it supports accurate recitation, interpretation, and transmission of sacred and technical texts—seen traditionally as aiding dharma through right understanding (samyag-jñāna).