Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 1
Aśvāyurveda
Medical Science of Horses
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे अश्वायुर्वेदो नामाष्टाशीत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथोननवत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अश्वशान्तिः शालिहोत्र उवाच अश्वशान्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि वजिरोगविमर्दनीं नित्यां नैमित्तकीं कम्यां त्रिविधां शृणु सुश्रुत
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe aśvāyurvedo nāmāṣṭāśītyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ athonanavatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ aśvaśāntiḥ śālihotra uvāca aśvaśāntiṃ pravakṣyāmi vajirogavimardanīṃ nityāṃ naimittakīṃ kamyāṃ trividhāṃ śṛṇu suśruta
এইভাবে আগ্নেয় মহাপুরাণে ‘অশ্বায়ুর্বেদ’ নামে দুইশো ঊননব্বইতম অধ্যায় (সমাপ্ত)। এখন দুইশো নব্বইতম অধ্যায় ‘অশ্বশান্তি’ আরম্ভ। শালিহোত্র বললেন—আমি অশ্বরোগ-বিনাশিনী অশ্বশান্তি বলছি; তা নিত্য, নৈমিত্তিক ও কাম্য—এই তিন প্রকার। হে সুश्रুত, শোন।
Śālihotra (authority on Aśvāyurveda) addressing Suśruta
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Classifying and introducing horse-disease pacification rites alongside veterinary knowledge; guides when and why to perform nitya/naimittika/kāmya śānti for equine health and welfare.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Aśvaśānti: Threefold Pacification Rite for Horse Diseases","lookup_keywords":["aśvāyurveda","aśvaśānti","Śālihotra","nitya naimittika kāmya","vajiroga"],"quick_summary":"The text transitions from veterinary science to a ritual pacification system aimed at mitigating horse diseases, categorized into daily, occasional, and desire-fulfilling rites."}
Concept: Integration of yukti (practical science) with śānti (ritual harmonization) for safeguarding life and prosperity.
Application: Adopt layered risk-management: routine prevention, event-triggered response, and goal-based interventions.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Aśvāyurveda / Veterinary Medicine) and Śānti-kalpa (Ritual Pacification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sage Śālihotra addresses Suśruta, announcing the Aśvaśānti rite that destroys horse diseases and explaining its threefold classification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, two sages seated in a gurukula setting, palm-leaf manuscripts, a calm horse in the background, triadic symbols indicating nitya/naimittika/kāmya, flat iconic forms and warm tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style, Śālihotra teaching Suśruta with gold halo accents, manuscript and ritual implements nearby, a noble horse behind them, ornate borders and gold leaf detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, pedagogical scene with labeled triad (nitya/naimittika/kāmya), sages in refined attire, soft shading, manuscript focus, horse motif subtly included.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly assembly with manuscripts, Śālihotra gesturing while Suśruta listens, stable courtyard visible with horses, intricate textiles and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्याग्नेये = इति आग्नेये; नामाष्टाशीत्यधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः = नाम अष्टाशीति-अधिक-द्विशततमः अध्यायः; अथोननवत्यधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः = अथ ऊन-नवति-अधिक-द्विशततमः अध्यायः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 289 (Aśvāyurveda chapter colophon); Agni Purana 290 (Aśvaśānti begins)
FAQs
It introduces Aśvaśānti—an applied śānti-kalpa (pacificatory ritual technology) aimed at suppressing or removing horse diseases, classified into nitya (regular), naimittika (occasion-based), and kāmya (goal-oriented) forms.
By moving from Aśvāyurveda (veterinary medical science) to Aśvaśānti (ritual therapeutics), it shows how the Agni Purana integrates practical animal healthcare with ritual frameworks—typical of its wide-ranging coverage of medicine, rites, and applied knowledge systems.
Performing śānti rites for animals is framed as dharmic care and purification: it seeks harmony (śānti), removal of afflictions (roga), and auspiciousness for the household/kingdom where horses are vital, thereby aligning practical welfare with religious merit.