Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 54
मृतसञ्जीवनीकरसिद्धयोगः (Mṛtasañjīvanī-kara Siddha-yogaḥ) — Perfected Formulations for Revivification and Disease-Conquest
पयस्यापिप्पलीवासाकल्कं सिद्धं क्षये हितम् वचाविडभयाशुण्ठीहिङ्गुकुष्ठाग्निदीप्यकान्
payasyāpippalīvāsākalkaṃ siddhaṃ kṣaye hitam vacāviḍabhayāśuṇṭhīhiṅgukuṣṭhāgnidīpyakān
For kṣaya (consumption), a paste (kalka) of Payasyā together with Pippalī and Vāsā, cooked and prepared as a medicated formulation, is beneficial. Vacā, Viḍa-bhayā, Śuṇṭhī, Hiṅgu, Kuṣṭha, and Agni-dīpyaka—herbs that kindle the digestive fire—may likewise be employed as therapeutic ingredients.
Lord Agni (narrating Ayurvedic remedies to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Preparation of a kṣaya-hara (consumption-wasting) medicated paste/decoction using specified herbs; supportive deepana-pācana to restore agni and strength.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kṣaya (Consumption) Remedy: Payasyā–Pippalī–Vāsā Siddha-Kalka with Deepana Dravyas","lookup_keywords":["kṣaya","payasyā","pippalī","vāsā","deepana-pācana"],"quick_summary":"Cook Payasyā with Pippalī and Vāsā as a medicated paste for kṣaya; adjunct herbs like Vacā, Śuṇṭhī, Hiṅgu, Kuṣṭha and Agni-dīpyaka kindle digestion and support recovery."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Agni (digestive/metabolic fire) as the gateway for recovery; medicine works through proper digestion and assimilation.
Application: In chronic wasting, pair nourishing/supportive drugs with deepana-pācana to prevent āma and improve dhātu-puṣṭi.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies / Rasayana & Chikitsa)
Primary Rasa: hita
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An Ayurvedic physician prepares a medicated paste by cooking Payasyā with Pippalī and Vāsā; nearby are arranged Vacā, Śuṇṭhī, Hiṅgu, Kuṣṭha and other deepana herbs, with a patient of wasting illness being advised.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, vaidya in traditional attire stirring a bronze vessel over a small hearth, labeled herbs (pippalī, vāsā) arranged on banana leaf, calm clinical setting, flat decorative detailing","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated vaidya with ornate halo-like arch motif, gold-leaf highlights on medicine pot and herb bowls, rich reds and greens, patient receiving small portion of kalka, stylized medicinal plants","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional composition showing step-by-step: grinding herbs, cooking siddha-kalka, measuring dose; soft pastel background, clear labeling of dravyas","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed apothecary scene with mortar-pestle, copper cauldron, attendants sorting herbs, physician writing notes; delicate floral borders and naturalistic plant depiction"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पयस्यापि → पयसि + आ + (पिप्पली…); पिप्पलीवासाकल्कम् → पिप्पली + वासा + कल्कम् (समाहार-निर्देश); वचाविडभयाशुण्ठीहिङ्गुकुष्ठाग्निदीप्यकान् → वचा + विडभया + शुण्ठी + हिङ्गु + कुष्ठ + अग्निदीप्यकान् (समुच्चय-द्वितीया)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 284 (Cikitsā/Rasāyana context: kṣaya, gulma, udara remedies)
FAQs
Ayurvedic chikitsā: it prescribes a cooked herbal paste (kalka-siddha) using Payasyā–Pippalī–Vāsā for kṣaya (wasting/consumption), and lists additional dīpana (digestive-fire-kindling) drugs like Vacā, Śuṇṭhī, Hiṅgu, and Kuṣṭha.
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a practical compendium: alongside theology and ritual, it preserves clinical Ayurvedic ingredient-lists and formulation logic (processing as siddha, selecting respiratory and dīpana drugs) for a specific disease category (kṣaya).
By framing healing knowledge within a Purāṇic teaching, the verse treats preservation of life and restoration of strength as dharmic action—supporting the body as an instrument for duty, worship, and righteous living, while honoring Agni (metabolic ‘fire’) as a principle of purification and vitality.