Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 42
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
अर्धार्धाभ्यधिकाः सर्वाः पूर्वपूर्वाञ्जलेर्मताः अर्धाञ्जलिश् च शुक्रस्य तदर्धञ्च ततौजसः
ardhārdhābhyadhikāḥ sarvāḥ pūrvapūrvāñjalermatāḥ ardhāñjaliś ca śukrasya tadardhañca tataujasaḥ
تُفهَم جميع المقادير المتقدمة على أن كلَّ واحدٍ منها يزيد على الذي قبله بمقدار مرةٍ ونصف. ومقدار الشُّكرا (śukra: المني) نصف añjali، ومقدار الأوجس (ojas) نصف ذلك (أي ربع añjali).
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Establishes a proportional scale of bodily measures and highlights śukra and ojas quantities—useful for teaching vitality assessment and the hierarchy from dhātu to ojas in rasāyana thinking.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Incremental añjali measures; Śukra and Ojas pramāṇa","lookup_keywords":["śukra","ojas","añjali","pramāṇa","rasāyana"],"quick_summary":"States that successive bodily measures increase by a fixed fractional increment, and specifies śukra as half an añjali and ojas as half of that, underscoring ojas as subtle and precious."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Ojas is subtle, limited, and foundational; vitality depends on conserving and refining essence rather than merely accumulating gross quantity.
Application: Live with conservation of essence: balanced routine, ethical restraint, and nourishing habits as a practical sādhanā for resilience and clarity.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Rasayana, Virya-pramana, and Shukra-Ojas assessment)
Primary Rasa: jijnasa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A proportional scale diagram showing descending subtlety: gross measures leading to śukra (half añjali) and ojas (quarter añjali), depicted as a small radiant drop at the center of the heart region.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with a stylized human figure; a measuring ladder of añjali units along the side; śukra shown as a white luminous vessel, ojas as a tiny golden droplet glowing at the chest; bold sacred aesthetics.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with embossed gold 'ojas' droplet at the heart, surrounded by ornate lotuses; a small panel shows śukra measure; rich gold work emphasizing preciousness of ojas.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore didactic painting: clean measurement chart with fractions; anatomical silhouette with highlighted reproductive essence and heart-ojas point; fine lines and clear labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a physician explaining a proportional chart to a patron; on the chart, śukra and ojas marked with fractional measures; subtle glow painted around the ojas symbol."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्धार्धाभ्यधिकाः = अर्ध + अर्ध + अभ्यधिकाः; पूर्वपूर्वाञ्जलेर्मताः = पूर्वपूर्वाञ्जलेः + मताः; अर्धाञ्जलिश् = अर्धाञ्जलिः (visarga before च); तदर्धञ्च = तदर्धम् + च; ततौजसः = तत् + ओजसः (त्+ओ→तो).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369.41 (fluid measures); Agni Purana Ayurveda khanda on rasāyana and dhātu-pariṇāma
FAQs
It gives Ayurvedic pramāṇa (quantitative assessment) for vital essences: śukra is measured as half an añjali, and ojas as half of that, using the añjali hand-measure.
By preserving clinical-style physiological quantification (units and comparative measures) alongside religious material, it shows the Agni Purana compiling practical Ayurvedic knowledge within a Purāṇic framework.
Ojas is classically linked with vitality, clarity, and spiritual stamina; knowing its measure underscores the Purāṇic ideal that bodily discipline and health-supporting knowledge aid dharma and sustained religious practice.