Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 37

Adhyāya 361 — अव्ययवर्गः

Avyaya-vargaḥ) — The Section on Indeclinables (Colophon/Closure

Devanagari script

शुक्रले मूषिके श्रेष्ठे सुकृते वृषभे वृषः द्यूताक्षे सारिफलके ऽप्याकर्षो ऽथाक्षमिन्द्रिये

Transliteration

śukrale mūṣike śreṣṭhe sukṛte vṛṣabhe vṛṣaḥ dyūtākṣe sāriphalake 'pyākarṣo 'thākṣamindriye

Translation

คำว่า “วฤษะห์” ใช้ในความหมายว่า ชายกำหนัดจัด หนู ผู้ประเสริฐ กุศลกรรม และโคผู้ (วัวเพศผู้) คำว่า “อากรรษะห์” ใช้เรียกลูกเต๋าในการพนัน และยังหมายถึงเมล็ดของผลสารีด้วย; ส่วน “อักษัม” หมายถึงอินทรีย์หรืออวัยวะรับรู้۔

Word by Word

• शुक्रले: in/for ‘śukrala’ (a term/name)
• शुक्रले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्रल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• मूषिके: in a mouse
• मूषिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूषिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• श्रेष्ठे: in the best/excellent
• श्रेष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• सुकृते: in good deed/merit
• सुकृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वृषभे: in a bull
• वृषभे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वृषः: bull; the ‘vṛṣa’
• वृषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• द्यूत-अक्षे: in a gambling-die
• द्यूत-अक्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यूत + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (gambling + die)

• सारि-फलके: on a game-board (sārī-board)
• सारि-फलके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारि + फलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (sārī-board/board for a game)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः

• आकर्षः: attraction; pulling
• आकर्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + कृṣ् (धातु) → आकर्ष (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; धात्वर्थ-निर्मित-नाम (pulling/attraction)

• अथ: then; now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अनुक्रम/प्रस्तावार्थक-निपातः (then/now)

• अक्षम्: eye; die; axle (here: ‘akṣa’)
• अक्षम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• इन्द्रिये: in a sense-organ
• इन्द्रिये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s instructional narration to Vasiṣṭha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: फलके ऽपि → फलके + अपि (ए + अ → एऽ); आकर्षो ऽथ → आकर्षः + अथ (ः + अ → ओऽ); अथाक्षमिन्द्रिये → अथ + अक्षम् + इन्द्रिये (अ + अ → आ; m + i → मि).

Characters & Entities

• Agni Purana
• Nighaṇṭu
• Nānārtha (polysemy)
• Indriya

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

This verse imparts nighaṇṭu-vidyā (lexicography): it lists multiple accepted meanings of key Sanskrit terms (vṛṣaḥ, ākarṣaḥ, akṣam) used across śāstric and literary contexts.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

By functioning like a compact Sanskrit glossary, it supports accurate interpretation of diverse disciplines (ritual, poetics, law, medicine) that the Agni Purana covers—showing it preserves not only doctrines but also the linguistic tools needed to read śāstra precisely.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Correct understanding of śabda (words) safeguards correct practice and correct recitation; in a Purāṇic frame, clarity of meaning prevents ritual and doctrinal error, supporting dharma and the merit (sukṛta) gained from right knowledge and right action.