Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 18
Chapter 366 — सामान्यनामलिङ्गानि
Common Noun-Forms and Their Grammatical Genders
सुदूरे तु दविष्ठं स्याद्वृत्तं निस्तलवर्तुले उच्चप्रांशून्नतोदग्रा ध्रुवो नित्यः सनातनः
sudūre tu daviṣṭhaṃ syādvṛttaṃ nistalavartule uccaprāṃśūnnatodagrā dhruvo nityaḥ sanātanaḥ
สิ่งนั้นอยู่ไกลยิ่งนัก ไกลที่สุด; เป็นแผ่นกลมเรียบเป็นวงกลมดุจจาน. สูงเด่นพุ่งขึ้นมีสันยอดชัด—ธรุวะ (ดาวเหนือ) มั่นคง เที่ยงแท้ และดึกดำบรรพ์
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Pole-star (Dhruva) as a fixed celestial reference for orientation, navigation, and explaining the apparent rotation of the sky in cosmographic teaching.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Dhruva (Pole Star) as the fixed, eternal pivot","lookup_keywords":["Dhruva","pole star","fixed point","circular disk","cosmography"],"quick_summary":"Dhruva is described as extremely distant, circular in appearance, lofty, and eternally fixed. It functions as the stable reference-point around which the heavens are conceptually organized."}
Concept: Nityatva (permanence) and dhruvatva (steadfastness) as cosmic order-signs; the universe is intelligible through stable reference points.
Application: Use the idea of a fixed pivot to teach regularity of time/space measures and cultivate steadiness (dhairya) by analogy.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha / Cosmography (Graha-Nakshatra-Loka-Varnana)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast night sky with the Pole Star shown as a bright, unmoving summit-point; concentric circular paths of stars/sky-sphere implied around it, emphasizing distance and fixity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep indigo sky, Dhruva as a radiant fixed star at the upper center, concentric celestial bands with stylized nakshatras, traditional flat perspective, ornate cloud motifs, mineral pigments","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Dhruva as a central gem-like star with gold-leaf halo, circular celestial disk motif behind, rich reds and blues, embossed gold work for the star and rings, devotional-cosmographic composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, diagrammatic concentric circles around Dhruva, labeled nakshatra-like dots, instructional cosmography feel with delicate ornamentation","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed star field with fine stippling, Dhruva highlighted at top with subtle aureole, circular motion of constellations suggested by faint arcs, precise astronomical aesthetic"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्याद्वृत्तम् = स्यात् + वृत्तम्; पुराणपाठे ‘निस्तलवर्तुले’ इति समासः; ‘उच्चप्रांशून्नतोदग्रा’ = उच्च + प्रांशु + उन्नत + उदग्रा (विशेषण-समुच्चयः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Jyotisha/Cosmography sections on graha-nakshatra-loka-varnana; Agni Purana time-reckoning (kala-nirnaya) passages that rely on fixed celestial markers
FAQs
It imparts cosmographic-astronomical (Jyotiṣa) knowledge: Dhruva is characterized as extremely distant, fixed, and described with a round, smooth form—useful as the cosmic reference point for directionality in traditional celestial mapping.
By including precise cosmography and star-lore (Dhruva’s fixity, distance, and form), the Agni Purana expands beyond myth into technical descriptions of the cosmos, aligning with its multi-disciplinary, encyclopedic scope.
Dhruva’s “fixed” and “eternal” nature functions as a contemplative model of steadiness (dhruvatva): meditating on cosmic order and permanence supports mental stability and dharmic orientation.