Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 16
Adhyāya 361 — अव्ययवर्गः
Avyaya-vargaḥ) — The Section on Indeclinables (Colophon/Closure
प्राधान्ये राजलिङ्गे च वृषाङ्गे ककुदो ऽस्त्रियां स्त्री सम्बिज्ज्ञानसम्भाषाक्रियाकाराजिनामसु
prādhānye rājaliṅge ca vṛṣāṅge kakudo 'striyāṃ strī sambijjñānasambhāṣākriyākārājināmasu
No sentido de “preeminência”, no gênero honorífico régio, e no de um membro do touro, a palavra “kakuda” não é feminina; porém, em nomes que designam uma mulher, no sentido de “reconhecimento/conhecimento mútuo e completo”, de “conversação”, de “ação”, e de “agente/autor (kārājī)”, ela é feminina.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vashistha in the encyclopedic grammatical sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Correct gender assignment (liṅga-nirṇaya) for the word ‘kakuda’ across meanings, preventing grammatical errors in composition and commentary.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Kakuda-śabda: liṅga-vyavasthā by meaning (non-feminine vs feminine senses)","lookup_keywords":["kakuda","liṅga-nirṇaya","strīliṅga","rājaliṅga","vṛṣāṅga"],"quick_summary":"States that ‘kakuda’ is not feminine in senses like pre-eminence, royal honorific usage, and bull-limb; but becomes feminine in certain abstract/noun senses and in woman-denoting names—meaning controls gender."}
Concept: Artha governs vyākaraṇa: semantic conditioning of grammatical gender
Application: When composing, first fix intended meaning of ‘kakuda’, then apply the corresponding gender to maintain correct agreement (vibhakti, viśeṣaṇa, kriyā).
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vyakarana / Linga-nirnaya: grammatical gender and semantic usage)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grammar teacher demonstrates two columns on a board: ‘kakuda’ non-feminine meanings (prādhānya, rājaliṅga, vṛṣāṅga) and feminine meanings (strī-nāma, saṃvijjñāna, saṃbhāṣā, kriyā, kārājī), with students practicing agreement in example sentences.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru in vyākaraṇa class, palm-leaf charts showing masculine/neuter vs feminine, stylized bull motif for vṛṣāṅga, royal emblem for rājaliṅga, bold lines and earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated ācārya with gold detailing, manuscript open to liṅga rules, symbolic icons: bull hump/limb, royal parasol, and a feminine figure representing strīliṅga senses.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional tableau with labeled columns and example phrases, refined faces, subdued palette, emphasis on pedagogy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, madrasa-like classroom, calligraphic panels listing meanings and genders, small motifs of bull and royal court, meticulous detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ककुदो ऽस्त्रियां = ककुदः + अस्त्रियाम्. दीर्घसमासः: सम्बित्-ज्ञान-सम्भाषा-क्रिया-कार-अजि-नामसु (बहुषु अर्थेषु ‘स्त्री’ शब्दप्रयोगः इति सूचीभावः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 361 (liṅga/śabda-bheda entries)
FAQs
This verse imparts Vyakarana-vidya: a technical rule of linga-nirnaya (gender determination) showing that a noun’s grammatical gender can shift according to semantic domain (pre-eminence/royal usage/bull’s limb vs. woman/recognition/speech/action/agent-names).
By preserving specialized grammatical and lexicographic rules—normally found in Vyakarana and Kosha literature—the Agni Purana demonstrates its encyclopedic scope beyond ritual and mythology, cataloging linguistic science alongside other knowledge systems.
While not a ritual injunction, correct linguistic usage supports accurate recitation, teaching, and transmission of sacred texts; thus it indirectly upholds dharma by preventing meaning-errors in scriptural study and discourse.