Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 9
Chapter 366 — सामान्यनामलिङ्गानि
Common Noun-Forms and Their Grammatical Genders
यः सहाञ्चति स सध्र्यङ् स तिर्यङ् यस्तिरो ऽञ्चति वाचोयुक्तिः पटुर्वाग्मी वावदूकश् च वक्तरि
yaḥ sahāñcati sa sadhryaṅ sa tiryaṅ yastiro 'ñcati vācoyuktiḥ paṭurvāgmī vāvadūkaś ca vaktari
ผู้ที่เคลื่อนไปพร้อมกันในทิศเดียวกันเรียกว่า ‘สัธรยัง’; ผู้ที่เคลื่อนไปตามแนวขวางเรียกว่า ‘ติรยัง’; และผู้ที่เคลื่อนไปแบบเบี่ยงออก/เฉียงเรียกว่า ‘ติโร’ญจติ’ ในผู้พูด ‘วาโจยุกติ’ คือความเหมาะสมในการเรียบเรียงถ้อยคำ; ‘ปฏุ’ คือความชำนาญทางวาจา; ‘วาคมี’ คือความเป็นวาทศิลป์; และ ‘วาวดูกะ’ คือผู้พูดมาก
Lord Agni (narrating the encyclopedic disciplines to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Clarifies directional-motion compounds/derivatives (sadhryaṅ, tiryaṅ, tiro’ñcati) and speaker-qualities (vācoyukti, paṭu, vāgmī, vāvadūka) for accurate usage in commentary, grammar, and rhetoric.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Directional terms and speaker-qualities: sadhryaṅ, tiryaṅ, tiro’ñcati; vācoyukti, paṭu, vāgmī, vāvadūka","lookup_keywords":["sadhryaṅ","tiryaṅ","tiro’ñcati","vāgmī","vācoyukti"],"quick_summary":"Gives compact semantic definitions for motion-direction terms and for rhetorical labels describing a speaker’s phrasing skill, eloquence, or garrulity."}
Concept: Precision in śabda-prayoga: mapping verbal roots/usages to clear meanings; ethical-aesthetic discernment in speech.
Application: Cultivates disciplined communication—aim for vācoyukti and vāgmī-hood; avoid vāvadūkatā (mere talkativeness) in debate and teaching.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Vyakarana/Nirukta—lexical and semantic definitions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher draws three arrows—straight, crosswise, and oblique—to illustrate sadhryaṅ/tiryaṅ/tiro’ñcati; beside him, four portraits of speakers: apt phraser, skilled rhetor, eloquent orator, and a garrulous talker.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru with stylus drawing directional arrows on a board, three paths in bold colors, four speaker-figures with distinct expressions (measured, sharp, radiant, overly talkative), temple-school ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated acharya with golden arch, directional arrows rendered as decorative motifs, four labeled speaker archetypes, gold embossing on manuscript and ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: diagrammatic arrows and labeled terms, refined faces showing speech qualities, clean layout like a pedagogic chart.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, madrasa-like setting, scholar illustrating directions with arrows on paper, four courtiers representing vācoyukti/paṭu/vāgmī/vāvadūka, intricate textiles and margins with calligraphy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सहाञ्चति = सह अञ्चति; तिरो ऽञ्चति = तिरः अञ्चति; वाचोयुक्तिः = वाचः युक्तिः; पटुर्वाग्मी = पटुः वाग्मी; वावदूकश् च = वावदूकः च
Related Themes: Agni Purana Sahitya-shastra: sections on doṣa/guṇa of speech and poet’s qualifications (nearby in 366)
FAQs
It imparts linguistic/lexical knowledge: precise definitions for motion-direction terms (sadhryaṅ, tiryaṅ, tiro’ñcati) and technical labels for qualities of a speaker (vācoyukti, paṭu, vāgmī, vāvadūka).
Beyond mythology and rites, the Agni Purana catalogues practical disciplines; here it preserves Sanskrit usage and rhetorical taxonomy—showing it functions as a reference compendium for language, semantics, and learned discourse.
By promoting precise and appropriate speech (vācoyukti) and warning against mere verbosity (vāvadūka), it supports satya and śuddha-vāk—disciplined speech regarded as ethically purifying and conducive to dharma.