Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 10
Adhyāya 361 — अव्ययवर्गः
Avyaya-vargaḥ) — The Section on Indeclinables (Colophon/Closure
मौर्व्यां द्रव्याश्रिते सत्वशुक्लसन्ध्यादिके गुणः श्रेष्ठे ऽधिपे ग्रामणीः स्यात् जुग्प्साकरुणे घृणे
maurvyāṃ dravyāśrite satvaśuklasandhyādike guṇaḥ śreṣṭhe 'dhipe grāmaṇīḥ syāt jugpsākaruṇe ghṛṇe
‘குண’ என்ற சொல் (1) மூர்வா நாரால் செய்யப்பட்ட வில்லின் நாண், (2) பொருளில் சார்ந்த பண்பு/தர்மம், (3) சத்த்வம், (4) வெண்மை, (5) சந்தியா முதலியவை எனப் பல பொருள்களில் வரும். மேலும் ‘சிறந்தது’, ‘அதிபதி’, ‘கிராமணி’ (கிராமத் தலைவர்) என்பதையும் குறிக்கும். ‘க்ருணா’ என்பது அருவருப்பு (ஜுகுப்ஸா) மற்றும் கருணை—இரண்டையும் சொல்கிறது.
Lord Agni (traditional framing: Agni instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Lexical clarification of ‘guṇa’ across domains (archery equipment, metaphysics, color/time, excellence, rulership) and ‘ghṛṇā’ as emotional terms—useful for commentators, poets, and technical writers.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Polysemy list: guṇa; ghṛṇā","lookup_keywords":["guṇa (bowstring)","guṇa (property)","sattva-guṇa","sandhyā (twilight)","ghṛṇā (disgust/compassion)"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates senses of guṇa from bowstring to attribute/quality, sattva, whiteness, twilight, excellence, lordship, and village headman; defines ghṛṇā as both disgust and compassion depending on context."}
Alamkara Type: Shlesha
Weapon Type: Bow
Concept: Guṇa as ‘quality/attribute’ inhering in dravya (substance) and as sattva—bridging linguistic and philosophical usage.
Application: Helps distinguish guṇa as physical component (bowstring) vs ontological category (quality) vs ethical-metaphysical sense (sattva) in interpretation and teaching.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Lexicography / Synonyms and Nighaṇṭu-style semantic lists)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lexicon teacher demonstrates the word ‘guṇa’ with a bow and bowstring, a chalkboard-like diagram showing ‘dravya–guṇa’, a white cloth for ‘śukla’, a twilight horizon for ‘sandhyā’, and a village headman seated in council; two facial expressions depict ghṛṇā as disgust and as compassion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: central archer holding bow with prominent bowstring labeled guṇa; side panels with philosophical diagram dravya/guṇa, a white lotus cloth, and a sunset twilight band; village headman with staff; expressive faces for ghṛṇā; earthy reds/ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gilded bow and string, ornate philosophical emblem, gold-highlighted twilight sky; village leader with jewelry; two small medallions showing ghṛṇā (aversion) and ghṛṇā (karuṇā) with gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional plate: labeled parts of bow (māurvī bowstring = guṇa), plus neat icons for quality, sattva, whiteness, twilight, excellence, overlord, grāmaṇī; minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: atelier scene with scholar, an archer’s equipment on carpet, a sunset terrace view, and a village council; subtle facial studies for disgust and compassion; fine borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रेष्ठेऽधिपे → श्रेष्ठे अधिपे.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-śāstra kośa sections on polysemy; Agni Purana Dhanurveda sections on bow parts and materials
FAQs
It teaches nānārtha (polysemy): how key terms like “guṇa” shift meaning across disciplines—weaponry (bowstring), philosophy (quality/sattva), and polity (lord, grāmaṇī).
By cataloguing multiple domain-specific senses of a single Sanskrit term, it functions like a compact dictionary entry—supporting interpretation across Dhanurveda, Sāṅkhya-style guṇa theory, and governance vocabulary.
Correct semantic understanding safeguards accurate recitation, interpretation, and application of dharma-knowledge; clarity of meaning is treated as a purifier of study and a support for right action.