Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 24
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
काकतिन्दौ पीलुकः स्यात् पाटलिर्मोक्षमुष्ककौ क्रमुकः पट्टिकाख्यः स्यात्कुम्भी कैटर्यकट्फले
kākatindau pīlukaḥ syāt pāṭalirmokṣamuṣkakau kramukaḥ paṭṭikākhyaḥ syātkumbhī kaiṭaryakaṭphale
पीलुकः काकतिन्द्विति प्रसिद्धः; पाटली मोक्षमुष्ककाविति च कथ्यते। क्रमुकः पट्टिकाख्यः; कैटर्यकट्फले तु कुम्भी-नाम्नी इति स्मृतौ।
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Correct identification of dravyas in prescriptions by mapping regional/alternate plant names to a single medicinal substance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nighaṇṭu-synonyms: Pīluka, Pāṭalī, Kramuka, Kumbhī","lookup_keywords":["Pīluka","Kākatindu","Pāṭalī Mokṣamuṣka","Kramuka Paṭṭikā","Kumbhī Kaiṭarya Kaṭphala"],"quick_summary":"This verse gives synonym-equivalences used in Ayurvedic materia medica so a physician can avoid substitution errors when sourcing herbs across regions and dialects."}
Concept: Śabda–artha-niyama (fixing meaning through accepted synonymy) for reliable practice.
Application: Standardize terminology between teacher, text, and apothecary to prevent wrong-drug administration.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Nighaṇṭu (Materia Medica: plant synonyms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An Ayurvedic vaidya and a forest-collector compare labeled bundles of herbs, matching alternate names on palm-leaf tags to the same plant specimens.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat earthy palette, vaidya with palm-leaf manuscript, herb bundles labeled Pīluka/Kākatindu, Pāṭalī/Mokṣamuṣka, Kramuka/Paṭṭikā, Kumbhī/Kaiṭarya/Kaṭphala, forest backdrop, clean linework","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated vaidya holding palm-leaf nighaṇṭu, gold-leaf highlights on herb bundles and brass vessels, inscriptions of synonym pairs, rich reds and greens, devotional yet instructional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate shading, instructional tableau of apothecary sorting herbs into trays with synonym labels, palm-leaf manuscript open, precise botanical detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly physician in a garden pavilion, attendants presenting herb specimens with written synonym tags, fine botanical rendering, patterned textiles, marginal notes of names"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यात्कुम्भी = स्यात् + कुम्भी; पाटलिर्मोक्षमुष्ककौ = पाटलिः + मोक्षमुष्ककौ; कैटर्यकट्फले treated as itaretara-dvandva (two names).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (Ayurveda/Nighaṇṭu section: dravya-nāma-paryāya lists)
FAQs
Ayurvedic nighaṇṭu-vidyā: it teaches synonymy (paryāya) of medicinal plants so physicians and readers can correctly identify the same drug under different regional or textual names.
By cataloging materia medica and cross-referencing plant names, the Agni Purana functions like a compendium—preserving practical medical-lexical knowledge alongside theology, ritual, and other sciences.
Accurate identification of medicinal substances supports dharmic care of the body (a means for sādhana and duty); correct knowledge prevents harmful errors and enables righteous healing service (puṇya through upakāra).