Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 7
Bhūmi–Vana–Auṣadhi–Ādi Vargāḥ (भूमिवनौषध्यादिवर्गाः) — Lexical Groups on Earth, Settlements, Architecture, Forests, Materia Medica, and Fauna
भित्तिः स्त्री कुह्यमेडूकं यदन्तर्नस्तकीकसं वासः कूटो द्वयोः शाला सभा सञ्जवनन्त्विदम्
bhittiḥ strī kuhyameḍūkaṃ yadantarnastakīkasaṃ vāsaḥ kūṭo dvayoḥ śālā sabhā sañjavanantvidam
‘بھِتّی’ دیوار کو کہتے ہیں۔ ‘ستری’ عورت/ناری ہے۔ ‘کُہْیَ’ کے معنی مینڈک بھی ہیں۔ جو چیز اندر رکھی جائے اسے ‘نستکی کس’ کہا جاتا ہے۔ ‘واس’ رہائش ہے۔ ‘کوٹ’ چوٹی/شکھر ہے۔ ‘شالا’ (یا ‘سبھا’) ہال/مجلس گاہ ہے۔ اور اسے ‘سنجون’ کے نام سے بھی بیان کیا گیا ہے۔
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in an encyclopedic glossary section
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Lexical precision for common nouns (wall, dwelling, peak, hall) and semantic clarification for correct usage in śāstra and kāvya.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"General vocabulary: bhitti, strī, kuhya, (antar-)nastakīkasa, vāsa, kūṭa, śālā/sabhā, sañjavana","lookup_keywords":["bhitti","kuhya","kūṭa","śālā","sabhā"],"quick_summary":"Provides a compact glossary of everyday and architectural terms, supporting accurate composition and interpretation; includes a specialized ‘inner/within’ term (nastakīkasa) and ‘sañjavana’ as an animating/life-restoring designation."}
Concept: Language as instrument of knowledge—correct designation prevents confusion in ritual, architecture, and narrative.
Application: Use standardized nouns in manuals and commentaries; avoid misreading technical terms in prescriptions, plans, or narrative descriptions.
Khanda Section: Vyakarana / Kosha (Synonyms and technical vocabulary; lexicography within the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic sections)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau showing labeled objects: a bhitti wall, a vāsa dwelling, a kūṭa peak, a śālā/sabhā hall with seated assembly; a small frog (kuhya) near a water pot; an inset showing ‘inside/within’ (antar) placement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, classroom-like sage instructing students, objects arranged as icons with labels (bhitti, śālā), frog motif near lotus pond, warm tones and bold contours.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central sabhā hall scene with gold accents, side vignettes of wall and dwelling, ornate label cartouches, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional plate with neatly separated labeled illustrations (wall, hut, peak, hall, frog), fine outlines and soft washes.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, interior assembly hall with architectural detail (bhitti), marginal mini-icons for frog and peak, calligraphic annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Saraswati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यदन्तर्नस्तकीकसं = यत् + अन्तः + नस्तकीकसम् (t + a sandhi; visarga retained in resolution). सञ्जवनन्त्विदम् = सञ्जवनम् + तु + इदम् (m + t; tu joined in recitation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 362 (kośa/technical vocabulary sequence)
FAQs
This verse imparts kosha-vidyā (lexicographic knowledge): it lists precise Sanskrit equivalences/synonyms for common nouns (e.g., wall, dwelling, hall), useful for correct usage in composition, ritual manuals, and learned discourse.
By embedding a nighaṇṭu/kosha-style word-list, the Agni Purana functions as a reference compendium—covering not only theology and ritual but also language tools needed to read, interpret, and compose Sanskrit technical literature.
While not a direct ritual injunction, preserving correct meanings and usage supports accurate recitation, teaching, and transmission of dharma-texts; in the traditional view, linguistic correctness safeguards the efficacy (śakti) of sacred speech.