Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 26
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
सर्जाश्वकर्णौ वीरेन्द्रौ इन्द्रद्रुः ककुभो ऽर्जुनः इङ्गुदी तापसतरुर्मोचा शाल्मलिरेव च
sarjāśvakarṇau vīrendrau indradruḥ kakubho 'rjunaḥ iṅgudī tāpasatarurmocā śālmalireva ca
सर्जाश्वकर्णौ, वीरेन्द्रः, इन्द्रद्रुः, ककुभोऽर्जुनः, इङ्गुदी, तापसतरुः, मोचा, शाल्मलिश्चेति—एते वृक्षाः परिगणिताः।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Serves as a medicinal-botany catalogue for recognizing useful trees in forest collection, timber, and drug sourcing (bark, resin, flowers, fibers).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Vanaspati-nighaṇṭu: Tree enumeration (Sarja to Śālmali)","lookup_keywords":["Sarja","Aśvakarṇa","Arjuna Kakubha","Iṅgudī","Śālmali Mocā"],"quick_summary":"A compact register of important trees used in medicine and allied practices; supports field identification and systematic collection."}
Concept: Loka-saṅgraha through cataloguing nature: ordered knowledge of vanaspati enables right use without waste.
Application: Sustainable collection: identify species correctly and harvest appropriate parts to preserve groves.
Khanda Section: Vṛkṣa-āyurveda / Vanaspati-nighaṇṭu (Medicinal Botany and Plant Catalogues)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A forest panorama with labeled trees—Sarja, Aśvakarṇa, Arjuna, Iṅgudī, Śālmali—while a sage-collector notes them on a palm-leaf list.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized forest with distinct tree silhouettes, sage with palm-leaf manuscript, labels near trees (Sarja, Aśvakarṇa, Arjuna, Iṅgudī, Śālmali), earthy palette, rhythmic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, sacred grove scene with gold accents on leaves and blossoms, central sage and attendants collecting bark/resin, ornate border, labeled trees","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, semi-diagrammatic botanical grove with careful leaf/bark textures, teacher pointing to each tree name, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed botanical garden-like forest, each tree rendered naturalistically with calligraphic labels, sage writing, soft landscape depth"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ककुभो ऽर्जुनः = ककुभः + अर्जुनः; शाल्मलिरेव = शाल्मलिः + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (Vṛkṣa-āyurveda / vanaspati lists)
FAQs
This verse imparts vṛkṣa-nāma-jñāna (technical plant nomenclature): a structured enumeration of specific trees used in medicinal, ritual, and material contexts within Vṛkṣa-āyurveda-style cataloguing.
By preserving standardized lists of flora (including medically important trees like Arjuna and Iṅgudī), the Agni Purāṇa functions as a compact reference work—bridging purāṇic teaching with practical domains such as materia medica, forestry knowledge, and ritual-resource identification.
Knowing and honoring sacred and useful trees supports dhārmic living—enabling proper selection for worship materials, charity, and healing—thereby aligning everyday practice with purity, merit (puṇya), and non-harm through informed use of natural resources.