Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 52
मृतसञ्जीवनीकरसिद्धयोगः (Mṛtasañjīvanī-kara Siddha-yogaḥ) — Perfected Formulations for Revivification and Disease-Conquest
विडङ्गानलसिन्धूत्थरास्नाग्रक्षारदारुभिः तैलञ्चतुर्गुणं सिद्धं कटुद्रव्यं जलेन वा
viḍaṅgānalasindhūttharāsnāgrakṣāradārubhiḥ tailañcaturguṇaṃ siddhaṃ kaṭudravyaṃ jalena vā
Using viḍaṅga, anala, saindhava (rock-salt), uttha, rāsnā, agrakṣāra (alkali), and dāru, one should prepare medicated oil in a fourfold measure; alternatively, the pungent drugs may be processed with water.
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Bhaiṣajya-kalpanā: preparation of medicated oil (taila) using a specified drug list and proportion (fourfold oil), with an alternative aqueous processing for pungent drugs.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Viḍaṅgādi Taila (Caturguṇa Taila-siddhi) / Kaṭu-dravya Jala-sādhana","lookup_keywords":["vidanga","saindhava","rasna","kshara","daru","taila-siddhi"],"quick_summary":"A medicated oil is to be prepared using viḍaṅga and allied drugs with oil in a fourfold measure; alternatively, pungent drugs may be processed with water, indicating flexible pharmaceutical methods."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Kalpanā-bheda (multiple preparation pathways) and māna (proportion) as core to effective medicine-making.
Application: Select oil-based or water-based processing depending on patient suitability and desired drug delivery, while maintaining proportional rigor.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies and formulations)
Primary Rasa: Samanya
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pharmacy scene: herbs laid out (viḍaṅga, rāsnā, saindhava, kṣāra), a large cauldron simmering oil, and a separate pot showing water-based processing of pungent drugs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; stylized apothecary with copper cauldron of taila-pāka; ingredient piles labeled in Devanagari; rhythmic decorative borders; earthy reds and ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore; ornate vessels with gold leaf; central cauldron with shimmering oil; surrounding ingredient trays; emphasis on abundance and clarity of materials.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore; technical step diagram feel—measuring ‘caturguṇa’ oil, adding paste/decoction; inset for jala-sādhana; fine lines and muted tones.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; detailed still-life of spices, salts, alkali; physician overseeing oil cooking; assistants stirring; precise depiction of weights/measures."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tailañcaturguṇaṃ = tailam caturguṇam; sindhūttha-rāsnāgra... reflects compound chaining; agra here taken as a drug-name component (e.g., śuṇṭhī/agra).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 284 (taila/kvātha/kalpanā sections)
FAQs
It teaches an Ayurvedic pharmacy instruction: how to cook (sādhana/siddhi) a medicated oil using specified pungent and alkaline ingredients, including the proportional rule of making the oil in a fourfold measure (caturguṇa).
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical sciences; here it records Ayurvedic compounding rules (ingredient lists, proportions, and processing media like oil or water), showing its role as a compendium of applied knowledge.
In Purāṇic framing, maintaining health through dhārmic, text-sanctioned remedies supports daily duties (svadharma) and purity of conduct; the instruction is thus indirectly linked to sustaining righteous living rather than being a standalone ritual act.