Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 3
Aśvāyurveda
Medical Science of Horses
द्विजेभ्यो दक्षिणान्दद्यादश्ववृद्धिस् तथा भवेत् अश्वयुक् शुक्लपक्षस्य पञ्चदश्याञ्च शान्तिकं
dvijebhyo dakṣiṇāndadyādaśvavṛddhis tathā bhavet aśvayuk śuklapakṣasya pañcadaśyāñca śāntikaṃ
ويُعطى للـ«دْوِجَة» (ذوي الولادتين، من البراهمة القائمين بالشعائر) دَكْشِنَا (الأجرة الطقسية)، وبذلك يتحقق ازدياد الخيل حقًّا. وكذلك في يوم البدر من شهر «أشفايوج» (اليوم الخامس عشر من النصف المضيء) تُقام أيضًا شعيرة «شانتِكَ» التسكينية.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Ritual economy and calendrical timing: give dakṣiṇā to officiants to secure prosperity (increase of horses) and perform a śāntika rite on the full-moon of Aśvayuj.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dakṣiṇā and Aśvayuj Pūrṇimā Śāntika for Increase of Horses","lookup_keywords":["dakṣiṇā","dvija","Aśvayuj","pūrṇimā","śāntika"],"quick_summary":"Prosperity in horse-stock is linked to proper dakṣiṇā to Brahmin officiants and a timed śānti rite on the Aśvayuj full moon."}
Concept: Dāna (dakṣiṇā) and kāla-niyama (right timing) uphold ritual efficacy and social reciprocity, yielding prosperity.
Application: Resource allocation and scheduled maintenance/ceremonies improve continuity of critical assets (here, horses).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śānti-kalpa / Dāna-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: artha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual patron offers dakṣiṇā to Brahmin priests; a full-moon night of Aśvayuj is indicated as the time for śāntika rites for horse prosperity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, patron placing gifts before seated dvijas, full moon disc in the background, horses calmly tethered, lamps and ritual vessels, stylized figures and strong contours.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style, ceremonial gifting scene with gold highlights on vessels and ornaments, priests receiving dakṣiṇā, moonlit border motif, horses adorned, rich decorative frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, orderly donation and ritual-prep scene, calendar cue of Aśvayuj pūrṇimā shown via moon and month label, delicate lines and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court patronage scene with priests, trays of coins/cloth, moonlit courtyard, horses in stable wing, intricate architectural and textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दद्यादश्ववृद्धिस् = दद्यात् अश्ववृद्धिः; पञ्चदश्याञ्च = पञ्चदश्याम् च
Related Themes: Agni Purana 290 (continuation of Aśvaśānti rites and observances)
FAQs
It prescribes a practical śānti/dāna protocol: pay dakṣiṇā to dvija officiants and perform a śāntika rite specifically timed to the bright-fortnight fifteenth (pūrṇimā) in Āśvina (Aśvayuj) for material prosperity—here, the increase of horses.
It blends ritual economics (dakṣiṇā), calendrical timing (pakṣa-tithi and month), and outcome-oriented rites (śāntika for prosperity), showing the text’s applied coverage of dharma, jyotiṣa-based observances, and pragmatic royal/household concerns like livestock wealth.
Supporting qualified ritual specialists through dakṣiṇā and performing śānti-karman is presented as a dharmic act that generates puṇya and removes impediments, converting religious merit into auspicious stability and prosperity (expressed here as aśva-vṛddhi).