Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 5
Chapter 153 — Brahmacarya-āśrama-dharma
The Dharma of the Student Stage
गुप्तदासात्मकं नाम प्रशस्तं वैश्यशूद्रयोः शर्मान्तं ब्रह्मणस्योक्तं वर्मान्तं क्षत्रियस्य च
guptadāsātmakaṃ nāma praśastaṃ vaiśyaśūdrayoḥ śarmāntaṃ brahmaṇasyoktaṃ varmāntaṃ kṣatriyasya ca
ବୈଶ୍ୟ ଓ ଶୂଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ‘-ଗୁପ୍ତ’ କିମ୍ବା ‘-ଦାସ’ ଯୁକ୍ତ ନାମ ପ୍ରଶସ୍ତ। ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ‘-ଶର୍ମନ୍’ ଅନ୍ତ, କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ‘-ବର୍ମନ୍’ ଅନ୍ତ ନାମ କୁହାଯାଇଛି।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Standardizing personal names by varṇa (including mercantile/servile suffixes) to support social administration, lineage identification, and ritual propriety.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Varṇa-wise commendable name endings: -gupta/-dāsa; -śarman; -varman","lookup_keywords":["gupta","dāsa","śarman","varman","varṇa onomastics"],"quick_summary":"Vaiśya/Śūdra names are commended with -gupta or -dāsa; brāhmaṇa with -śarman; kṣatriya with -varman—forming a normative onomastic taxonomy."}
Concept: Names function as dharmic markers of role and duty within varṇāśrama, aiding both ritual and civic recognition.
Application: When selecting names, align suffix with varṇa convention to maintain social legibility in ceremonies, documents, and community dealings.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Samaja-niti (Varna-nama-vidhi / Onomastics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau showing four families (brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra) each presenting a child with a name banner: -śarman, -varman, -gupta, -dāsa; an officiant points to a rule tablet.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with four grouped vignettes, stylized attire indicating varṇa roles, name-banners in decorative script, officiant holding palm-leaf rule tablet, flat ornamental background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold borders, four-panel composition, each panel labeled with suffix, richly ornamented figures, central dharma emblem (chakra/lotus) tying the taxonomy together.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional chart-like painting: clean separation of four cases, subtle color coding, clear suffix inscriptions, gentle shading and fine lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature with four small scenes in one page, each with a caption cartouche showing suffix, courtly realism, detailed textiles, balanced layout."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: brahmaṇasyoktaṃ = brahmaṇasya uktaṃ; vaiśyaśūdrayoḥ treated as dvandva compound in genitive dual.
Related Themes: Agni Purana nāmakaraṇa rules; varṇāśrama-dharma discussions
FAQs
It gives a practical onomastic rule: recommended name-endings (suffix patterns) aligned with varṇa—“-śarman” for Brāhmaṇas, “-varman” for Kṣatriyas, and “-gupta/-dāsa” for Vaiśyas and Śūdras.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs applied norms of society—here, a Dharmaśāstra-style guideline on personal naming—showing its coverage of governance, social custom, and saṃskāra-related conventions.
By aligning a person’s name with prescribed social-dharmic conventions, the text frames naming as a harmonizing saṃskāra that supports orderly conduct (dharma) and auspicious identity within one’s duties.