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
పారిభద్రాది వర్గంలో నింబవృక్షం, మందారము, పారిజాతకము, వంజులము, చిత్రకృత్; అలాగే పీతనకము మరియు పీతనము అనే రెండు భేదాలు కూడా పేర్కొనబడినవి।
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.