Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 19

Kalpasāgara (Ocean of Formulations) — Mṛtyuñjaya Preparations and Rasāyana Regimens

Devanagari script

शालूकचूर्णं भृङ्गाज्यं समध्वाज्यं शताब्दकृत् कटुतुम्बीतैलनस्यं कर्षं शतद्वयाब्दवान्

Transliteration

śālūkacūrṇaṃ bhṛṅgājyaṃ samadhvājyaṃ śatābdakṛt kaṭutumbītailanasyaṃ karṣaṃ śatadvayābdavān

Translation

مسحوق śālūka؛ والسمن المصفّى (ghee) المُعالج بـ bhṛṅga (bhr̥ṅgarāja) مع العسل والسمن—يُقال إنه يهيّئ لعمر مئة سنة. وأما النَّسْيَا (nasya: تقطير دواء في الأنف) بزيت kaṭutumbī بقدر karṣa واحد، فيُقال إنه يمنح عمر مئتي سنة.

Word by Word

• शालूक-चूर्णम्: powder of śālūka
• शालूक-चूर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालूक (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शालूकस्य चूर्णम्)

• भृङ्ग-आज्यम्: bhṛṅga-ghee (ghee processed with bhṛṅga/bhṛṅgarāja)
• भृङ्ग-आज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (भृङ्गसम्बन्धि आज्यम्/भृङ्गराज-युक्त घृतम्)

• स-मधु-आज्यम्: ghee with honey
• स-मधु-आज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (मधुयुक्तम् आज्यम्)

• शत-अब्द-कृत्: conferring a hundred-year life
• शत-अब्द-कृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (शताब्दं करोति/ददाति—‘makes (one) live 100 years’)

• कटु-तुम्बी-तैल-नस्यम्: nasal therapy/oil-drop of pungent gourd oil
• कटु-तुम्बी-तैल-नस्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटु (प्रातिपदिक) + तुम्बी (प्रातिपदिक) + तैल (प्रातिपदिक) + नस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कटुतुम्बीतैलस्य नस्यम्)

• कर्षम्: one karṣa (measure)
• कर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रमाण/मात्रा (measure)

• शत-द्वय-अब्द-वान्: having two hundred years (lifespan)
• शत-द्वय-अब्द-वान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्/वान् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु (द्वे शते अब्दे यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Longevity-oriented formulations: śālūka powder and bhr̥ṅgarāja-processed ghee with honey; plus nasya with kaṭutumbī oil at a specified dose (karṣa) for head-region therapy and rejuvenation.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śālūka Cūrṇa, Bhṛṅgarājaghṛta, and Kaṭutumbī Taila Nasya (Karṣa-mātrā)","lookup_keywords":["Śālūka","Bhṛṅgarāja","Ghṛta","Nasya","Kaṭutumbī taila"],"quick_summary":"The verse lists multiple rasāyana measures: oral powders and medicated ghee with honey, and a quantified nasya dose using kaṭutumbī oil, each linked to stated longevity outcomes."}

Ayurveda Layer

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mātrā (dose-measure) and mārga (route of administration) determine therapeutic effect.

Application: Select route (oral vs nasal) and specify dose (karṣa) to make treatment reproducible and safer.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies and formulations)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An Ayurvedic setup showing three therapies: a bowl of śālūka powder, a pot of bhr̥ṅgarāja medicated ghee with honey, and a nasya procedure with oil drops administered into the nostrils using a small spoon/dropper; dose indicated as one karṣa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized nasya scene with patient reclining, attendant holding small oil vessel, bhr̥ṅgarāja leaves depicted, ghee pot and honey comb motifs, warm lamp-lit clinic interior","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted oil vessel and ghee pot, central nasya administration with ornate textiles, ingredients arranged symmetrically, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional panel: (1) powder, (2) medicated ghee mixing, (3) nasya posture and administration, labeled dose ‘karṣa’, fine lines and calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician performing nasya on reclining patient, detailed apothecary table with powders and ghee, precise vessels, architectural niche background"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: भृङ्गाज्यं = भृङ्ग + आज्यम् (स्वर-सन्धि). कटुतुम्बीतैलनस्यं = कटुतुम्बी + तैल + नस्यम् (समास).

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 285 (nasya and rasayana items in sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Ayurveda
• Nasya

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches an Ayurvedic rasāyana-style longevity regimen: (1) śālūka powder with bhr̥ṅgarāja-processed ghee plus honey and ghee, and (2) kaṭutumbī-oil nasya with a specified dose (one karṣa).

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical healthcare instructions—specific ingredients, preparation style (medicated ghee), a therapeutic route (nasya), and a dosage unit—showing it functions as a compendium of applied sciences like Ayurveda.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By framing therapy as longevity-promoting (āyuḥ-prada), the verse links bodily purification and vitality to dharmic life: sustaining health is treated as supportive of sustained sādhana, duty, and merit-bearing conduct.