Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 74
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
कके तु करटारिष्टौ वकः कह्व उदाहृतः कोकश् चक्रश् चक्रवाको कादम्बः कलहंसकः
kake tu karaṭāriṣṭau vakaḥ kahva udāhṛtaḥ kokaś cakraś cakravāko kādambaḥ kalahaṃsakaḥ
काकस्य तु करटारिष्टौ पर्यायौ; वकः ‘कह्व’ इत्यपि कथ्यते। चक्रवाकः ‘कोक’ ‘चक्र’ इति नामभिः प्रसिद्धः; कादम्बः ‘कलहंसक’ इति चोच्यते।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Synonym-knowledge for precise reading, composition, and interpretation of zoological terms in kavya, dharma, and ritual contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Bird Synonyms: Crow, Heron, Cakravāka, Kādamba","lookup_keywords":["kaka","vaka","cakravaka","kadamba","nighantu"],"quick_summary":"Provides standard kośa-synonyms for common birds; useful for decoding poetic diction and choosing accurate substitutes in composition."}
Concept: Śabda-jñāna as a tool for correct artha-grahaṇa (meaning-grasp) and communication.
Application: Use kośa-synonyms to avoid ambiguity in reading/commentary and to fit meter/alliteration in composition.
Khanda Section: Nighaṇṭu / Śabdakośa (Lexicography: names of birds and animals)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A small natural-history tableau: crow, heron, cakravāka pair near water, and kādamba waterfowl, with labels indicating their kośa-synonyms.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat earthy palette, stylized birds—crow on branch, heron by lotus pond, cakravāka pair at dusk, kādamba waterfowl—Sanskrit labels: ककः करटः अरिष्टः; वकः कह्वः; चक्रवाकः कोकः चक्रः; कादम्बः कलहंसकः","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf borders, central lotus pond scene with four birds arranged symmetrically, ornate labeling panels in Devanagari for each synonym set, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, instructional plate showing each bird with callout text boxes listing synonyms, manuscript-like margins","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature naturalist page, detailed plumage and water plants, four vignettes with nastaʿlīq-style caption blocks replaced by Devanagari synonym lists, delicate background wash"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कह्व उदाहृतः → कह्वः उदाहृतः (visarga restoration). कोकश्/चक्रश् → कोकः/चक्रः (final s → visarga before consonant in padapāṭha).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (Nighaṇṭu/Kośa section: animal/bird synonym lists)
FAQs
Lexicographical knowledge (nighaṇṭu-vidyā): it supplies standardized Sanskrit synonyms for specific birds, useful for accurate reading, recitation, and interpretation of śāstric and kāvya texts.
By functioning like a compact glossary, it catalogs technical vocabulary (here, animal/bird nomenclature). Such lists support multiple disciplines—poetics, dharma-text citation, and traditional natural history—showing the Purāṇa’s reference-manual character.
Indirectly, correct terminology preserves textual accuracy in study (svādhyāya) and recitation; maintaining precise meanings is traditionally regarded as supportive of dharma and meritorious learning.