Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 19
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
पारिभद्रे निम्बतरुर्मन्दारः पारिजातकः वञ्जुलश्चित्रकृच्चाथ द्वौ पीतनकपीतनौ
pāribhadre nimbatarurmandāraḥ pārijātakaḥ vañjulaścitrakṛccātha dvau pītanakapītanau
பாரிபத்ர முதலிய குழுவில் நிம்பமரம், மந்தாரம், பாரிஜாதகம், வஞ்சுலம், சித்ரக்ருத்; மேலும் பீதனகம் மற்றும் பீதனம் எனும் இரு வகைகளும் கூறப்படுகின்றன।
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Nighaṇṭu-style identification of dravyas (trees) for correct selection in formulations, decoctions, oils, and external applications.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pāribhadrādi-varga (tree-dravya list: Nimba, Mandāra, Pārijāta, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["pāribhadrādi-varga","nimba","mandāra","pārijātaka","pītanaka"],"quick_summary":"This verse enumerates members of a named plant-group used in Ayurvedic materia medica; it functions as a mnemonic list for drug-identification and classification."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Nāma–rūpa-viveka for dravya: correct naming and grouping prevents therapeutic error.
Application: Pharmacognosy discipline: avoid substitution/adulteration by learning group-lists and bhedas (varieties).
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Dravyaguna (Medicinal plants and materia medica)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An Ayurvedic forest-grove scene where a teacher points out and names a sequence of trees—neem, mandāra, pārijāta, vañjula—while noting two similar-looking varieties (pītanaka/pītana).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, lush green grove, vaidya-guru with palm-leaf manuscript teaching students, clearly depicted neem tree with serrated leaves, flowering mandāra and pārijāta, labeled plant group ‘Pāribhadrādi’, flat colors, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated Ayurvedic sage holding ola leaf, gold-leaf highlights on stylized trees and blossoms, neem and pārijāta rendered as sacred grove, inscriptions of plant names, rich reds and greens, temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional botanical tableau, multiple trees arranged in panels with neat labels (nimba, mandāra, pārijātaka, vañjula), two similar specimens marked as pītanaka/pītana, fine linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly naturalist scene with a hakim/vaidya demonstrating trees in a garden, meticulous botanical detail, small captions for each plant, two variant specimens shown side-by-side, delicate palette and patterned ground."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: निम्बतरुर् + मन्दारः → निम्बतरुर्मन्दारः (र्-सन्धि). वञ्जुलः + चित्रकृत् + च + अथ → वञ्जुलश्चित्रकृच्चाथ (विसर्ग/श्च-सन्धि; च + अथ → चाथ). पीतनक + पीतनौ: द्वौ इति अपेक्षया द्विवचनं अपेक्षितम्; पाठे 'पीतनकपीतनौ' इति समाहार-उल्लेखः, पदच्छेदे पीतनकः + पीतनः (द्वौ) इति ग्रहणम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (Dravyaguṇa/Nighaṇṭu section: subsequent synonym-lists and varga groupings)
FAQs
This verse transmits Dravyaguṇa/Nighaṇṭu knowledge: a technical catalog of medicinal trees and their recognized Sanskrit synonyms/varieties, useful for correct identification in Ayurvedic formulations.
By preserving a structured materia medica list (names, synonym-sets, and varieties), the Agni Purana functions as a reference manual that integrates Ayurvedic pharmacognosy alongside its many other disciplines.
Accurate knowledge of sacred and medicinal plants supports dharmic healing and proper traditional practice; using the correct dravya (substance) is viewed as preserving efficacy and purity in remedial and religious applications.