Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 20
Chapter 279 — सिद्धौषधानि (Siddhauṣadhāni, “Perfected Medicines”) — Colophon/Closure
तिक्तस्वादुकषायाश् च तथा पित्तविनाशनाः रसस्यैतद्गुणं नास्ति विपाकस्यैतदिष्यते
tiktasvādukaṣāyāś ca tathā pittavināśanāḥ rasasyaitadguṇaṃ nāsti vipākasyaitadiṣyate
Bitter, sweet, and astringent effects likewise destroy pitta. This is not regarded as a property of taste (rasa) itself; rather, it is held to be a property of the post-digestive transformation (vipāka).
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Differentiate immediate taste (rasa) from post-digestive effect (vipāka) when predicting doṣa outcomes—especially for Pitta pacification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Vipāka as determinant beyond rasa (pitta-śamana nuance)","lookup_keywords":["vipāka","rasa vs vipāka","pitta-vināśana","tikta madhura kaṣāya","dravya-guṇa"],"quick_summary":"Though bitter, sweet, and astringent are said to reduce Pitta, the text notes this effect is attributed to vipāka (post-digestive transformation) rather than rasa alone. Clinical judgment should consider digestion and after-effect."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Distinction of levels of causality: apparent property (rasa) vs resultant transformation (vipāka) in explaining effects.
Application: In diet planning, track not only taste but post-meal outcomes (heat, acidity, stool/urine changes) to infer vipāka and adjust accordingly.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Dravya-guna: Rasa–Vipaka–Guna doctrine)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A conceptual diagram: ‘Rasa’ at the mouth leading to ‘Vipāka’ in the gut, with arrows showing Pitta reduction attributed to vipāka; a digestive fire (agni) motif in the abdomen.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized human figure with highlighted mouth and abdomen, rasa symbols entering, vipāka symbol emerging near digestive fire, Pitta flame subdued; Sanskrit labels, traditional border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted anatomical-symbolic panel: mouth (rasa) and belly (agni/vipāka), arrows in relief gold, Pitta flame icon diminishing; ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional cutaway-style symbolic anatomy with clear labeling of rasa and vipāka, gentle colors, physician pointing with stylus","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-physician illustrating a manuscript with a diagram of digestion and vipāka; fine calligraphy and marginal arrows"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तिक्तस्वादुकषायाश्→तिक्त स्वादु कषायाः; रसस्यैतद्गुणं→रसस्य एतत् गुणम्; नास्ति→न अस्ति; विपाकस्यैतदिष्यते→विपाकस्य एतत् इष्यते
Related Themes: Agni Purana 279.19 (rasa triads); Agni Purana 279.21 (vīrya and prabhāva)
FAQs
Ayurvedic dravya-guṇa knowledge: it distinguishes rasa (immediate taste) from vipāka (post-digestive effect) and attributes pitta-alleviation here specifically to vipāka rather than to rasa.
It preserves a technical Ayurvedic classification system (rasa–vipāka-based physiological action), showing the text’s coverage beyond mythology into medical theory used for dietetics and drug action.
By guiding correct diet and medicine selection to reduce pitta (heat/agitation), it supports bodily balance conducive to purity, steadiness of mind, and sustained performance of dharma and religious observances.