Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 23
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
स्यात्पञ्चता कालधर्मो दिष्टान्तः प्रलयो ऽत्ययः विशो भूमिस्पृषो वैश्या वृत्तिर्वर्तनजीवने
syātpañcatā kāladharmo diṣṭāntaḥ pralayo 'tyayaḥ viśo bhūmispṛṣo vaiśyā vṛttirvartanajīvane
“Pañcatā” denota a morte (tornar-se os cinco elementos). “Kāla-dharma” significa a lei do Tempo. “Diṣṭānta”, “pralaya” e “atyaya” são termos para destruição/calamidade (dissolução). “Viśaḥ” refere-se aos Vaiśyas; são chamados “bhūmi-spṛśaḥ”, os que vivem pelo contato com a terra (agricultura). “Vṛtti” significa sustento—viver segundo a própria ocupação.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Lexical clarity for dharma discourse: terms for death, dissolution, social class (Vaiśya), and livelihood used in legal/ritual and administrative contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Kośa entries: pañcatā (death), pralaya/atyaya, viśaḥ (Vaiśya), vṛtti (livelihood)","lookup_keywords":["pañcatā","pralaya","atyaya","viśaḥ","vṛtti"],"quick_summary":"Gives synonym sets and technical senses for death and calamity, identifies Vaiśyas by agrarian association, and defines vṛtti as occupational livelihood."}
Concept: Mortality (pañcatā) and time’s law (kāla-dharma) frame social duty and livelihood (vṛtti) within varṇa order.
Application: Use the vocabulary to interpret dharma texts, ritual manuals, and administrative records without semantic ambiguity.
Khanda Section: Nighaṇṭu / Śabdārtha-kośa (Lexical synonyms and technical vocabulary)
Primary Rasa: Samanya
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A scribe compiles a lexicon: on one side a symbolic dissolution into five elements (pañcatā/pralaya), on the other a Vaiśya farmer tilling land, and a ledger labeled vṛtti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; allegorical pralaya with swirling elements, beside a calm agrarian scene of ploughing Vaiśya, palm-leaf lexicon in foreground, earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore; split-panel composition with gold-highlighted cosmic dissolution motif and richly adorned agrarian prosperity scene, inscriptions of key terms.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore; manuscript-like educational tableau with labeled icons for pañca-bhūtas, farmer tools, and a neat glossary column, refined linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; scholar in library writing kośa, marginal miniature of flood/dissolution, detailed rural vignette of cultivation, fine calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syātpañcatā = स्यात् + पञ्चता; pralayo 'tyayaḥ = प्रलयः + अत्ययः; vṛttirvartanajīvane = वृत्तिः + वर्तनजीवने.
Related Themes: Agni Purana kośa/nighaṇṭu-style chapters around 365; Agni Purana cosmology passages on pralaya
FAQs
It teaches nighaṇṭu-style technical vocabulary: precise synonyms for death/dissolution (pañcatā, pralaya, atyaya, diṣṭānta) and socio-economic terms for Vaiśyas and livelihood (viśaḥ/vaiśyāḥ, bhūmispṛśaḥ, vṛtti).
By functioning like a compact glossary: it standardizes key terms used across dharma, cosmology (pralaya), and social organization (varṇa and occupation), supporting accurate understanding of many other sections.
It frames death and calamity as time-governed (kāla-dharma), encouraging detachment and clarity; it also affirms that righteous livelihood (vṛtti) aligned with one’s social duty is a dharmic basis for life.