Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 32
Chapter 360 — अव्ययवर्गाः
Groups of Indeclinables
संवद्वर्षे ऽवरे त्वर्वागामेवं स्वयमात्मना अल्पे नीचैर् महत्युच्चैः प्रायोभूम्न्य् अद्रुते शनैः
saṃvadvarṣe 'vare tvarvāgāmevaṃ svayamātmanā alpe nīcair mahatyuccaiḥ prāyobhūmny adrute śanaiḥ
संवत्सरचक्रेऽवरे भागे पूर्वं प्रवृत्ते, ततः स्वभावतः क्रमशोऽग्रे गच्छति। प्रमाणेऽल्पे नीचैः प्रवर्तते, महति तु उच्चैः; प्रायः पृथिव्यां शनैः, अनुद्रुतं, न सहसा चलति।
Lord Agni (in dialogue-format instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical of Agni Purāṇa’s didactic chapters)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Understanding gradual annual/seasonal variation in celestial motion for calendrics (kāla-nirṇaya), predicting apparent north–south shift and altitude changes used in ritual timing and agricultural planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Gradual annual progression of celestial measure (low when small, high when great)","lookup_keywords":["saṃvatsara","kāla-nirṇaya","ucchaiḥ-nīcaiḥ","śanaiḥ gati","krama-vṛddhi"],"quick_summary":"The verse characterizes yearly motion as naturally gradual: when the measure is small it stays low, when great it rises high, moving slowly without abrupt jumps—useful for practical calendric reckoning."}
Concept: Nature’s processes proceed by krama (gradual progression) rather than sudden discontinuity.
Application: Adopt incremental observation and correction in time-reckoning; avoid forcing abrupt adjustments against observed regularity.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha / Kala-nirṇaya (Astronomical time-reckoning and calendrics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic sky-dome over the earth showing a celestial body’s path gradually rising higher when its measure increases and dipping lower when it decreases, marked across the yearly cycle.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep mineral colors, circular mandala-like sky over Bhū-devī, a luminous graha moving on a smooth arc that rises and falls across seasons, annotated with Sanskrit labels ucchaiḥ and nīcaiḥ, traditional ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf highlights, stylized earth and zodiac band, a graha on a golden arc rising high and dipping low, rich reds and greens, temple-like framing, small Devanagari captions for saṃvatsara and śanaiḥ.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional diagram aesthetic: earth at center, yearly arc paths in two heights, small callouts for alpam/nīcaiḥ and mahat/ucchaiḥ, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing and pastel sky, astronomer-sage pointing to a chart showing a smooth rising and falling trajectory over months, delicate borders, Persianate palette but with Sanskrit marginal notes."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संवद्वर्षे = saṃvat-varṣe (अव्ययीभाव). ऽवरे = avare. त्वर्वागामेवं = tu + arvāk + āma + evaṃ (पदच्छेदः अनुमानितः). प्रायोभूम्न्य् = prāyaḥ + bhūmni. अद्रुते = a-drute (नञ्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 360 (Jyotiṣa/kāla-nirṇaya section)
FAQs
It conveys Jyotiṣa-style time/astronomy reasoning: celestial or temporal measures vary by phase—small measures correspond to a ‘lower’ course and larger measures to a ‘higher’ course—characterized as gradual, non-abrupt motion.
By treating calendrics and observational astronomy (yearly cycles, relative ‘low/high’ courses, gradual motion), the text extends beyond mythology into technical knowledge used for calendars, seasonal rites, and timing of rituals.
Accurate understanding of time-cycles supports correct ritual timing (kāla-śuddhi), which traditional dharma literature treats as essential for the efficacy and merit (puṇya) of rites performed in harmony with cosmic order.