Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 48
मृतसञ्जीवनीकरसिद्धयोगः (Mṛtasañjīvanī-kara Siddha-yogaḥ) — Perfected Formulations for Revivification and Disease-Conquest
द्वौ क्षारौ शाद्वला दन्ती स्वर्णक्षीरी विषाणिका कोलप्रमाणां गुटिकां पिवेत् सौवीरकायुतां
dvau kṣārau śādvalā dantī svarṇakṣīrī viṣāṇikā kolapramāṇāṃ guṭikāṃ pivet sauvīrakāyutāṃ
Man soll eine Pille (guṭikā) von der Größe einer kola-Frucht (Jujube) einnehmen, bereitet aus den zwei kṣāra (alkalischen Substanzen), śādvalā, dantī, svarṇakṣīrī und viṣāṇikā, und sie zusammen mit sauvīraka (sauer vergorenem Grützegetränk) trinken.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Administration of a strong gutikā (pill) with kṣāra and purgative/irritant herbs, taken with sauvīraka as anupāna—typically for deep āma, obstruction, or kapha-heavy digestive/metabolic disorders requiring sharp therapy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kṣāra-Gutikā with Sauvīraka Anupāna","lookup_keywords":["kṣāra gutikā","sauvīraka","dantī","svarṇakṣīrī","viṣāṇikā"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a jujube-sized pill made from alkaline substances and sharp herbs, to be taken with fermented gruel (sauvīraka) as the vehicle for potent digestive-clearing action."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Tīkṣṇa-auṣadha nyāya: when obstruction/āma is strong, therapy may be sharp (kṣāra, dantī) and requires precise mātrā (kola-pramāṇa) and correct anupāna (sauvīraka).
Application: Match drug potency to disease strength, but constrain with strict dose-measure and vehicle choice to manage risk.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies and formulations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Preparation of a jujube-sized pill: alkaline powders and sharp roots mixed into a paste, rolled into a gutikā, served with a bowl of fermented sauvīraka; a measuring reference shows kola size.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, bold outlines of herb bundles and white alkaline powders, physician rolling a pill, earthen bowl of sauvīraka, decorative background motifs of fermentation pots.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold highlights on the pill plate and brass bowl, rich colors, ornate frame, stylized depiction of kṣāra powders and dantī root.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional scene: step-by-step rolling of gutikā with a size guide (kola), clear depiction of anupāna bowl labeled sauvīraka, fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed kitchen-pharmacy with fermentation jars, physician presenting a small pill beside a bowl of sour gruel, realistic textures of powders and roots."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kolapramāṇāṃ = कोल + प्रमाणाम् (tatpuruṣa). sauvīrakāyutāṃ = सौवीरक + आयुताम् (tatpuruṣa: ‘with sauvīraka’).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 284 (gutikā and kṣāra-yoga context)
FAQs
This verse imparts Ayurvedic pharmaceutical guidance: preparing a guṭikā (pill) from specified drugs (including kṣāra and dantī) and prescribing the dose (kola-sized) with a specific anupāna (sauvīraka).
It demonstrates the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic scope by preserving practical medical pharmacology—drug lists, dosage standards, and adjuvant vehicles—alongside its theological and ritual material.
While primarily medical, such therapies are traditionally framed as supporting purity and bodily regulation (doṣa-śamana), enabling steadiness for dharma, worship, and disciplined living—thus indirectly supporting spiritual practice.