Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 11
अध्यायः २८६ — गजचिकित्सा
Elephant Medicine
नागानां स्नेहपुटकः पादरोगानुपक्रमेत् पश्चात् कल्ककषायेण शोधनञ्च विधीयते
nāgānāṃ snehapuṭakaḥ pādarogānupakramet paścāt kalkakaṣāyeṇa śodhanañca vidhīyate
পাদৰোগত প্ৰথমে নাগ (সীসা) ৰ স্নেহ-পুটক (তেলযুক্ত লেপ/পোটলি) প্ৰয়োগ কৰিব লাগে। পাছত কল্ক আৰু কষায়েৰে শোধন (শুদ্ধিকৰণ-চিকিৎসা) বিধেয়।
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Stepwise therapy for foot disorders using external oleaginous poultice (snehapuṭaka) followed by śodhana with paste and decoction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāda-roga: Snehapuṭaka then Śodhana with Kalka–Kaṣāya","lookup_keywords":["pāda-roga","snehapuṭaka","śodhana","kalka","kaṣāya"],"quick_summary":"Begin foot-disease management with an oleaginous poultice; then perform cleansing/purificatory measures using medicinal paste and decoction to complete the therapeutic sequence."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Cikitsā-krama: snehana-pūrvaka śodhana (oleation preceding cleansing) as a general therapeutic logic.
Application: In musculoskeletal/limb complaints, soften and lubricate first, then cleanse—avoiding harsh measures at the outset.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Chikitsa / Rogacikitsa—therapeutics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A patient’s foot is wrapped in a warm oleaginous poultice (puṭaka) while the physician prepares a paste (kalka) and a simmering decoction (kaṣāya) for subsequent cleansing applications.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up of foot treatment: poultice wrap with oil sheen, physician holding palm-leaf notes, decoction pot on a small stove, flat stylized forms.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold accents on the decoction vessel and oil bowl, patient seated with foot elevated on a small stool, ornate borders framing the clinical act.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional: panel 1 puṭaka application, panel 2 kalka preparation, panel 3 kaṣāya cleansing, fine linework and labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed clinic interior, physician bandaging foot poultice, assistant stirring decoction, naturalistic shading and patterned carpets."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शोधनञ्च → शोधनम् + च
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda khanda: snehana, lepa/puṭaka, śodhana upakrama, pāda-roga mentions
FAQs
Ayurvedic therapeutics: it prescribes starting pāda-roga (foot-disease) management with a nāga-based unctuous poultice (snehapuṭaka), followed by śodhana (cleansing therapy) administered through kalka (medicinal paste) and kaṣāya (decoction).
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a practical compendium beyond mythology—recording clinical sequences of treatment (external oleation/poultice followed by purification) and technical Ayurvedic dosage forms (kalka, kaṣāya) alongside other domains of knowledge.
While primarily medical, the emphasis on śodhana frames healing as purification—restoring bodily order and cleanliness, which aligns with broader Purāṇic ideals of śauca (purity) that support disciplined living and religious practice.