Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 26
Chapter 228 — स्वप्नाध्यायः
Svapnādhāyaḥ / Chapter on Dreams
मुखेन दोहनं शस्तं महिषीणां तथा गवां सिंहीनां हस्तिनीनाञ्च बडवानां तथैव च
mukhena dohanaṃ śastaṃ mahiṣīṇāṃ tathā gavāṃ siṃhīnāṃ hastinīnāñca baḍavānāṃ tathaiva ca
মুখ দিয়ে দোহন (চুষে দুধ তোলা) মহিষী ও গাভীর জন্য, এবং সিংহিনী, হাতিনী ও ঘোড়িনীর ক্ষেত্রেও উপযুক্ত/বিধেয় বলা হয়েছে।
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Veterinary/animal-management technique: using oral suction to draw milk in difficult cases across specified animals; practical husbandry guidance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāśu-cikitsā: Mukhena-dohana (Oral suction milking)","lookup_keywords":["pāśu-cikitsā","mukhena-dohana","mahīṣī","gāvaḥ","hastinī/badava"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes mouth-suction milking as an appropriate method for certain animals (buffalo, cow, lioness, she-elephant, mare), implying a pragmatic technique for extracting milk when needed."}
Concept: Care of dependent beings (pāśu) through applied technique; knowledge as serviceable craft.
Application: Maintain livestock productivity and animal welfare by knowing alternative milking methods and species-specific handling.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Pashu-chikitsa (Veterinary and animal-husbandry guidance)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stable/pasture scene: attendants manage different animals (cow, buffalo, mare, she-elephant; lioness in a controlled enclosure) while a practitioner demonstrates mouth-suction milking with careful restraint of the animal.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: pastoral enclosure with cow and buffalo foreground, mare and she-elephant behind, a guarded lioness pen at side; attendant performing mukhena-dohana; earthy palette, strong outlines, clear narrative arrangement","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: richly adorned royal stable with gold accents on harnesses, cow/buffalo central, elephant and horse attendants, lioness shown symbolically; practitioner demonstrating suction milking; ornate border and luminous finish","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional illustration: labeled animals and stepwise depiction of mukhena-dohana posture and restraint methods; soft colors, precise linework, emphasis on technique","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed menagerie scene with attendants, animals rendered naturalistically; practitioner milking a cow/buffalo by suction; elephant and horse in background, lioness in a cage; fine textiles and architectural stable details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hastinīnām+ca → hastinīnāñca; tathā+eva → tathaiva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Ayurveda/pāśu-cikitsā related passages (contextual)
FAQs
It gives a technical, practical instruction in animal-husbandry: for certain animals (buffalo, cow, lioness, she-elephant, mare), oral suction is stated as an approved method of initiating or performing milking (dohana).
Beyond theology, it preserves applied knowledge—here, a procedural note from veterinary/household economy—showing the Purana’s wide scope that includes agriculture, livestock care, and pragmatic techniques alongside religious teaching.
The verse primarily functions as pragmatic guidance; indirectly, proper care and non-injurious handling of animals aligns with dharmic conduct (ahiṃsā and responsible stewardship), supporting household purity and righteous livelihood.