Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 40
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
शुल्वमौदुम्बरं लौहे तीक्ष्णं कालांयसायसी क्षारः काचो ऽथ चपलो रसः सूतश् च पारदे
śulvamaudumbaraṃ lauhe tīkṣṇaṃ kālāṃyasāyasī kṣāraḥ kāco 'tha capalo rasaḥ sūtaś ca pārade
ศุลวะ (śulva: ทองแดง), โลหะเอาทุมพร (audumbara), เหล็ก (lauha), ตีกษณะ (tīkṣṇa: เหล็กกล้า), กาลายสะ (kālāyas) และ อายสี (āyasī); อีกทั้ง กษาระ (kṣāra: ด่าง), กาจะ (kāca: แก้ว); ต่อด้วย จปละ (capala: ไมกา), รสะ (rasa: ปรอท) และ สูตะ (sūta)—ทั้งหมดนี้นับว่าเกี่ยวเนื่องกับ ปารทะ (pārada: ควิกซิลเวอร์/ปรอท)
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Identifying and classifying metals/minerals and auxiliaries used in rasashastra—especially substances associated with mercury processing—for alchemical operations and medicinal bhasma/rasa preparations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rasashastra dravya-list associated with pārada: metals, alkali, glass, mica, mercury names","lookup_keywords":["pārada","rasa","sūta","capala","kṣāra-kāca"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates key dhātu and upadravya terms—copper, iron/steels, alkali, glass, mica—and identifies rasa/sūta as mercury-related nomenclature, serving as a glossary for mercury-centric operations."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Rasa-sādhana: transformation through disciplined procedure and correct identification of dravya.
Application: Maintain precise nomenclature of dhātu/upadhātu and auxiliaries to execute safe, repeatable rasakriyā.
Khanda Section: Rasashastra / Dhatu-vidya (Alchemy and Metallurgy)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An alchemical workspace: labeled samples of copper, iron/steel, black iron, alkali, glass, mica; a sealed vessel and a small mercury vial marked ‘pārada/rasa/sūta’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized rasashala with earthen furnaces, bronze vessels, labeled mineral trays, a central mercury flask, bold outlines and earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-leaf accents on vessels and mineral heaps, central mercury container, symmetrical arrangement of dhātu samples, ornate border motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical instructional scene with neatly arranged labeled specimens (śulva, lauha, tīkṣṇa, kālāyas, kṣāra, kāca, capala, pārada), soft shading, clear composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed laboratory interior with artisans, crucibles, retorts, mineral jars, fine textures for mica and glass, small caption cartouches for each dravya."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शुल्वमौदुम्बरम् = शुल्वम् + औदुम्बरम्; काचो 'थ = काचः + अथ; सूतश् च = सूतः + च; कालांयसायसी read as काल-अयस् + अयसि (sandhi/orthographic contraction in transmission).
Related Themes: Agni Purana rasashastra/dhātu-vidyā passages around 365.40; Agni Purana Ayurveda sections on bhasma/rasa usage (where present)
FAQs
It lists key rasashastra substances—metals (copper, iron/steel), minerals (mica), and processing agents (alkali, glass)—classified in relation to pārada (mercury), indicating the material toolkit used for alchemical/medicinal preparations.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves technical catalogues of materials used in medicine and metallurgy—showing it functions as a compendium that spans practical sciences like mineralogy and alchemical processing.
In puranic framing, correct knowledge of substances used for purification and preparation (śodhana/saṃskāra) supports dharmic healing and ritual purity; mastery of such vidyā is treated as meritorious when applied for righteous, non-harmful aims.