Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 26
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
माषादयः शमीधान्ये शुकधान्ये यवादयः तृणधान्यानि नीवाराः शूर्पं प्रस्फोटनं स्मृतं
māṣādayaḥ śamīdhānye śukadhānye yavādayaḥ tṛṇadhānyāni nīvārāḥ śūrpaṃ prasphoṭanaṃ smṛtaṃ
மாஷம் முதலிய பருப்புகள் ‘சமீ-தான்யம்’ எனப்படும்; யவம் முதலியவை ‘சுக-தான்யம்’ எனப்படும். நீவார (காட்டு அரிசி) ‘திணை/புல்-தான்யம்’ ஆகக் கருதப்படுகிறது; சூர்ப்பம் (விண்ணோட்டக் கூடை) பாரம்பரியமாக ‘ப்ரஸ்போடனம்’ என அழைக்கப்படுகிறது.
Lord Agni (in discourse, as narrator of encyclopedic classifications)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Ritual procurement and correct naming/classification of grains and implements for śrauta/smārta offerings, bali, and household rites; avoids dravya-doṣa (wrong substance) in karma.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dravya-paribhāṣā: Dhānya-varga and Śūrpa synonym","lookup_keywords":["māṣa","yava","nīvāra","śamīdhānya","śūrpa prasphoṭana"],"quick_summary":"Defines grain-classes used in ritual vocabulary: pulses as śamī-grains, barley-group as śuka-grains, and nīvāra as grass-grain; also records śūrpa’s technical synonym prasphoṭana for winnowing/cleaning."}
Concept: Śabda-śuddhi and dravya-śuddhi: correct technical nomenclature safeguards the validity of ritual action.
Application: When preparing offerings (havis/anna/bali), select the intended dhānya-variety and use the proper implement-name in instructions and inventories.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Ritual-vidhi (Dravya-paribhasha: classification of grains and ritual implements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual storehouse scene: heaps of black gram, barley, and wild rice labeled by class; a priest demonstrates winnowing with a śūrpa (prasphoṭana).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a yajña-śālā storeroom with labeled grain baskets (māṣa, yava, nīvāra), a brāhmaṇa holding a śūrpa mid-winnow, stylized flames and lotus borders, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf accents: central śūrpa (prasphoṭana) held by a priest, surrounding gold-embossed grain heaps (māṣa, yava, nīvāra) with ornamental borders, rich reds and greens, devotional yet instructional tableau.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework: diagrammatic arrangement of three grain categories with captions, a detailed śūrpa tool depiction, gentle pastel background, instructional manuscript-plate aesthetic.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: court granary/ritual kitchen corner, attendants sorting grains, a learned pandit pointing to labels ‘śamīdhānya/śukadhānya/tṛṇadhānya’, delicate textiles, architectural niches, meticulous naturalistic grains."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: माषादयः = माष + आदयः; यवादयः = यव + आदयः. शमीधान्ये/शुकधान्ये/तृणधान्यानि are तत्पुरुष compounds.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 365 (dravya-paribhāṣā and nighaṇṭu-style lists)
FAQs
It gives a technical classification of food-grains (pulses, cereals, wild/grass grains) and defines the ritual/agricultural implement śūrpa by the traditional technical term prasphoṭana, useful for correct identification of offering materials and procedures.
Beyond theology, it preserves precise Smṛti-like nomenclature—taxonomy of grains and definitions of tools—supporting practical domains such as ritual-material selection, household/agricultural practice, and textual standardization of technical vocabulary.
Correctly naming and classifying offering substances and implements supports accuracy (yathāvidhi) in rites; such procedural correctness is traditionally linked with purity of action and the intended merit of offerings.