Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 5
Chapter 245 — रत्नपरीक्षा
Examination of Gems
धूलीं मरकतञ्चैव तुथकं सीसमेव च पीलुं प्रवालकञ्चैव गिरिवज्रं द्विजोत्तम
dhūlīṃ marakatañcaiva tuthakaṃ sīsameva ca pīluṃ pravālakañcaiva girivajraṃ dvijottama
ਹੇ ਦ੍ਵਿਜੋਤ੍ਤਮ! ਧੂਲੀ (ਸੂਖਮ ਚੂਰਨ), ਮਰਕਤ, ਤੁਥਕ (ਨੀਲਾ ਥੋਥਾ/ਵਿਟ੍ਰਿਓਲ), ਸੀਸਾ, ਪੀਲੂ, ਪ੍ਰਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਗਿਰਿਵਜ੍ਰ—ਇਹ ਵੀ (ਗਿਣਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ) ਆਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) addressing a Brahmin sage (dvijottama; often aligned with Vasiṣṭha in reception)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Rasa/dravya inventory for preparing mineral-based formulations (bhasma, piṣṭi, powders) and identifying substances used in therapeutics and ritual-technical contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rasa-dravya list: dhūlī, marakata, tuttha, sīsa, pīlu, pravāla, girivajra","lookup_keywords":["tuttha","sīsa","pravāla","marakata","girivajra"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates mineral and organic dravyas relevant to rasashastra-style materia medica: vitriol (tuttha), lead (sīsa), coral (pravāla), emerald, and hard mineral substances, typically requiring purification before use."}
Concept: Applied knowledge depends on correct dravya selection; potent substances imply the need for saṃskāra (purification/processing) even when not stated.
Application: For practitioners: treat listed minerals as requiring identification, testing, and purification before any medicinal use.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Rasashastra (Materia Medica: minerals, gems, and substances used in formulations)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A rasashastra-style table of substances: blue vitriol, lead ingot, coral branches, emerald, fine powders, and a hard ‘mountain-diamond’ mineral, arranged for cataloging.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, alchemical-apothecary setting: bowls of powders (dhūlī), blue tuttha crystals, dull gray lead, red coral, green emerald, rugged girivajra; warm lamp-lit ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly ornamented still-life with gold leaf: coral and emerald prominent, labeled jars for tuttha and sīsa, priest-physician figure holding a palm-leaf text","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional rasadravya chart: each substance drawn with clarity (tuttha blue crystals, lead bar, coral), annotations and measuring tools, restrained palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed workshop: pharmacist and assistant weighing minerals, grinding powders, coral and emerald on velvet cloth, realistic reflections and textures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: marakatañcaiva → marakatam ca eva; sīsameva → sīsam eva; pravālakañcaiva → pravālakam ca eva; dvijottama is a vocative compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dravya-nirūpaṇa / Ratna-parīkṣā continuation (substance lists)
FAQs
It enumerates rasadravyas (mineral/gem substances)—powdered material, emerald, blue vitriol, lead, pīlu, coral, and a very hard mineral (girivajra)—as items recognized for technical use in medicinal/mineral preparations.
By cataloging specific minerals and gems with technical names (e.g., tuthaka, sīsa, pravālaka), it shows the text functioning as a compendium that preserves practical knowledge of materia medica alongside theology and ritual.
The verse’s primary thrust is practical (listing substances), but within the Purāṇic frame it supports dharmic well-being: maintaining health and effective remedies is treated as aiding righteous living and sustaining ritual and social duties.