Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 17
Vishahṛn Mantrauṣadham (Poison-Removing Mantra and Medicinal Remedy) — Colophon and Transition
तेषां वीजन्त्व्या ग्राह्यमिति ब्रह्माब्रवीच्च ताम् ताम्प्रणम्यौषधीम्पश्चात् यवान् प्रक्षिप्य मुष्टिना
teṣāṃ vījantvyā grāhyamiti brahmābravīcca tām tāmpraṇamyauṣadhīmpaścāt yavān prakṣipya muṣṭinā
Brahmā erklärte ferner: „Man soll sie sammeln, während man sie befächelt.“ Danach verneige man sich vor jeder Heilpflanze und werfe anschließend eine Handvoll Gerstenkörner (yava) als Opfergabe aus.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic instruction; verse cites Brahmā’s injunction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Ritualized herb collection: gather while fanning (to disperse insects/impurities and symbolically ‘awaken’ the plant), bow to each plant, and offer barley grains as a propitiatory act before taking the drug.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aushadhi-grahana-vidhi: vījanā (fanning) and yava-offering","lookup_keywords":["aushadhi-grahana-vidhi","vījanā","yava","namaskāra","Brahmā uvāca"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes a stepwise protocol for collecting herbs: fan while gathering, bow to the plant, and offer barley grains. Practical takeaway: combine respectful ritual with hygienic/field practice during harvest."}
Concept: Ahimsā and kṛtajñatā toward plant-life; taking from nature requires propitiation and restraint.
Application: Adopt ethical harvesting: minimal harm, gratitude rituals, and careful handling to sustain resources and quality.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Aushadhi-grahana-vidhi (Ritual collection and handling of medicinal herbs)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner fans a plant with a hand-fan while harvesting, then bows and scatters a fistful of barley grains at the plant’s base as offering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic fanning gesture with a palm-leaf fan, medicinal plants rendered in stylized forms, barley grains shown as golden dots, reverent posture and ritual calm","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly ornamented offering scene: barley grains in a small golden bowl, practitioner bowing to a sacred herb, gold leaf highlights on grains and vessels","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional panel: step 1 fanning, step 2 namaskāra, step 3 yava-offering; clean outlines, labeled elements, gentle colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature garden scene: attendant fanning, physician harvesting with care, barley scattering depicted with fine stippling, detailed flora and ground textures"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्रह्माब्रवीच्च → ब्रह्मा + अब्रवीत् + च (आ + अ = आ; त् + च = च्च). ताम्प्रणम्यौषधीम्पश्चात् → ताम् + प्रणम्य + औषधीम् + पश्चात् (म् + प = म्प; य + औ = यौ; म् + प = म्प).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 297.16 (invocation preceding collection); Agni Purana 297.18 (mantra repetition and ingestion/usage)
FAQs
It prescribes a formal method for collecting medicinal plants: gather them while gently fanning/wafting, salute each herb, and offer barley grains (yava) as a ritual act before/after collection.
It shows the Agni Purana blending practical Ayurveda (aushadhi handling) with ritual discipline—documenting not only remedies but also the sanctioned, dharmic procedure for sourcing medicinal materials.
Bowing to the plant and offering yava sacralizes the act of harvesting, aiming to remove fault in taking living growth, seek permission/blessing, and ensure purity and efficacy of the medicine.