Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 61
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
कर्चुरको द्राविडको गन्धमूली शठी स्मृता स्यद्दृक्षगन्धा छगलान्त्रा वेगी वृद्धदारकः
karcurako drāviḍako gandhamūlī śaṭhī smṛtā syaddṛkṣagandhā chagalāntrā vegī vṛddhadārakaḥ
శఠీ అనే సుగంధ ఔషధ కందాన్ని కర్చురక, ద్రావిడక, గంధమూలీ అని కూడా స్మరిస్తారు; అలాగే దృక్షగంధా, ఛగలాంత్రా, వేగీ, వృద్ధదారక అనే పేర్లతోనూ ప్రసిద్ధి।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Provides synonym equivalence for Śaṭhī to ensure correct drug selection (especially for aromatic rhizomes prone to substitution/adulteration).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Śaṭhī-dravya paryāyas (Karcuraka etc.)","lookup_keywords":["Śaṭhī","Karcuraka","Gandhamūlī","Drāviḍaka","Vṛddhadāraka"],"quick_summary":"States that Śaṭhī is known by multiple names; use these to reconcile regional and textual variants and avoid dispensing the wrong aromatic root."}
Concept: Pramāṇa in applied science: correct designation and verification precede effective therapy.
Application: Adopt multi-factor verification (name + sensory traits + source) for materia medica quality control.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Nighaṇṭu / Materia Medica: Synonyms of medicinal plants and drugs)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close-up of a fragrant rhizome being examined; a vaidya compares two similar roots, selecting the correct Śaṭhī while reading a synonym list.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, physician holding a rhizome to smell, assistant presenting labeled samples Karcuraka/Śaṭhī, stylized forest backdrop, traditional flat shading and ornamental vines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold detailing on medicine box and manuscript, central rhizome highlighted, labels of paryāyas around, rich red-green palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional comparison of rhizomes with fine outlines and annotations, calm scholarly mood, palm-leaf text showing the synonym chain","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, botanically detailed rhizomes on a tray, physician and merchant negotiating identification, delicate border motifs, precise labeling"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syaddṛkṣagandhā = syāt + dṛkṣagandhā (t/d sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (series of paryāya verses for dravyas)
FAQs
Ayurvedic nighaṇṭu-vidyā: it teaches the synonym-list used to identify the medicinal drug Śaṭhī across regions and textual traditions.
By cataloging multiple vernacular and technical names for a single medicinal substance, it functions like a pharmacological glossary—supporting accurate drug identification for formulations and therapy.
Indirectly, correct identification of medicinal substances supports dharmic healing and preservation of life (ārogya), a valued puruṣārtha-supporting outcome in Purāṇic instruction.