Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 16
Chapter 280 — रसादिलक्षणम् / सर्वरोगहराण्यौषधानि
Characteristics of Taste and Related Factors; Medicines that Remove All Diseases
मधुरास्तु विशेषेण विज्ञेया धातुवर्धनाः दोषाणाञ्चैव धातूनां द्रव्यं समगुणन्तु यत्
madhurāstu viśeṣeṇa vijñeyā dhātuvardhanāḥ doṣāṇāñcaiva dhātūnāṃ dravyaṃ samaguṇantu yat
المواد ذات المذاق الحلو تُعرَف على وجه الخصوص بأنها مُنمِّية للـ dhātu (أنسجة البدن). وأما المادة التي تتوازن صفاتها إزاء كلٍّ من الدوشا (doṣa) والدهاتو (dhātu) فتُعَدّ ذات طبيعة مُوَفِّقة مُنَسِّقة.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Use rasa (taste) and guṇa (qualities) to predict tissue-building effects; prefer sweet and balanced substances for harmonizing doṣa-dhātu relations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Madhura-rasa as dhātu-vardhana; balanced dravya as doṣa-dhātu sāmyakara","lookup_keywords":["madhura-rasa","dhātu-vardhana","doṣa","dhātu","sāmyatā"],"quick_summary":"Sweet taste especially nourishes tissues; a substance whose qualities are balanced relative to both doṣas and dhātus acts harmoniously."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Sāmya (balance) as the criterion of health-supporting substance selection.
Application: Evaluate therapies by whether they restore/maintain balance across functional doṣas and structural dhātus, not merely by single symptomatic relief.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Dravyaguna & Dosha-Dhatu theory)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A chart-like depiction of tastes with emphasis on ‘madhura’ leading to dhātu nourishment; physician selecting balanced herbs/foods to keep doṣas and dhātus in harmony.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic wheel of rasas with madhura highlighted, physician holding palm-leaf chart, bowls of sweet herbs/milk/ghee motifs, earthy palette and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central ‘madhura’ panel with gold halo-like emphasis, offerings of milk, ghee, sugarcane, ornate gold work, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional diagram: doṣa and dhātu scales balanced by a ‘samaguṇa dravya’, fine detailing and readable labels in Devanagari.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, still-life of materia medica with a physician pointing to a balance scale labeled doṣa/dhātu, delicate shading and botanical realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मधुरास्तु → मधुराः + तु; दोषाणाञ्चैव → दोषाणाम् + च + एव; धातुवर्धनाः → धातु + वर्धनाः; समगुणन्तु → समगुणम् + तु।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 280 (dravya-guṇa, rasa and dhātu discussion)
FAQs
Ayurvedic dravya-guṇa knowledge: it states that madhura-rasa (sweet taste) primarily nourishes and increases the dhātus, and it highlights the ideal of a substance whose guṇas remain balanced in relation to both doṣas and dhātus (supporting equilibrium).
It shows the Agni Purāṇa functioning as a compendium beyond myth—preserving practical Ayurveda (taste-based pharmacology, tissue nourishment, and doṣa–dhātu equilibrium), alongside its many other disciplines.
By prescribing balanced nourishment and doṣa–dhātu harmony, the verse supports sattvic health and steadiness of body and mind—conditions traditionally regarded as conducive to dharma, disciplined living, and purified conduct.