Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 13
Chapter 229 — शकुनानि (Śakuna: Omens)
गुडसर्पौ चेति ग , घ , ञ च गम्भीरमेघस्तनितं तडित्तुष्टिश् च मानसी एकतः सर्वलिङ्गानि मनसस्तुष्टिरेकतः
guḍasarpau ceti ga , gha , ña ca gambhīrameghastanitaṃ taḍittuṣṭiś ca mānasī ekataḥ sarvaliṅgāni manasastuṣṭirekataḥ
‘குட’ (வெல்லம்) மற்றும் ‘சர்ப’ (பாம்பு)—இவ்வாறு க, க்ஹ, ஞ ஆகிய எழுத்துகள் குறிக்கப்படுகின்றன. ‘மேகத்தின் ஆழ்ந்த இடிமுழக்கம்’ மற்றும் ‘மின்னலால் உண்டாகும் திருப்தி’—இவை மனத்திற்குரிய அனுபவங்கள். ஒரு இடத்தில் எல்லா லிங்கங்களும் (இலக்கணப் பால்கள்) தொகுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன; மற்றொரு இடத்தில் மனத் திருப்தி மட்டும் கூறப்படுகிறது.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, continuing the encyclopedic instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Mnemonic/semantic-phonetic glossing for letters and meanings; supports correct recitation, lexical interpretation, and pedagogical encoding of varṇa-artha relations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Śabda-śāstra note: varṇa-sañjñā, semantic mnemonics, and liṅga aggregation","lookup_keywords":["śabda-śāstra","varṇa","ga gha ña","liṅga","nirukta"],"quick_summary":"The verse presents a compact, somewhat cryptic pedagogical gloss linking phonemes (ga/gha/ña) with example-words and noting mental effects (thunder, lightning satisfaction) and a statement about grammatical genders (liṅga) versus mind-satisfaction."}
Alamkara Type: Dhvani (suggestion) / Lakṣaṇā (indirect indication) as a teaching device
Concept: Language analysis: phoneme, meaning, and grammatical categories are systematized; mental responses (mānasa) are distinguished from external phenomena.
Application: Use example-words as memory pegs for varṇas; separate objective referents (megha-stanita) from subjective effects (mānasa-tuṣṭi) when glossing meanings.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Shabda-shastra / Varna-artha-nirukta: phonetics and semantic glosses)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A classroom-like scene: a teacher points to written syllables ga, gha, ña; beside them are illustrative icons of jaggery (guḍa) and a serpent (sarpa). Another panel shows a cloud with deep thunder and a flash of lightning producing a serene mental satisfaction; a chart groups grammatical genders (liṅga) in one column and ‘mind-satisfaction’ in another.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: guru teaching varṇas on a palm-leaf manuscript; symbolic guḍa and nāga motifs; stylized cloud-thunder and lightning; decorative script-like borders; contemplative scholastic mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: seated guru with gold-highlighted manuscript; embossed letters ga/gha/ña; small gilded icons of jaggery and serpent; luminous cloud and lightning vignette; ornate educational devotional aesthetic.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional: clear diagrammatic layout—letters, example-objects, and a side illustration of cloud thunder and lightning; labeled liṅga chart; fine linework and muted tones for pedagogy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: madrasa-like setting with scholar and students; calligraphic ga/gha/ña on a board; still-life of jaggery and a serpent illustration; background sky with thundercloud and lightning; refined naturalism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ceti = ca + iti; manasastuṣṭiḥ = manasaḥ + tuṣṭiḥ (visarga sandhi: aḥ + t → as t). Verse contains letter-names ga/gha/ña as indeclinables.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 229 (misc. encyclopedic lists and glosses)
FAQs
It imparts shabda-shastra/varna-nirukta style knowledge: phonetic/lexical glosses tied to specific consonants (ga, gha, ña) and brief semantic notes on mental effects (mānasī tuṣṭi) and grammatical categories (liṅga).
Alongside ritual and dharma topics, the Agni Purana also preserves compact technical notes on Sanskrit linguistics—phonetics, semantic glossing, and grammatical gender—showing its wide-ranging, reference-like character.
While not a direct ritual injunction, it supports correct recitation and precise understanding of sacred language; in traditional Indian thought, accurate śabda (sound/word) aids clarity of mind and faultless transmission of scripture.