Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 44
Chapter 291 — Śāntyāyurveda
Ayurveda for Pacificatory Rites): Go-śānti, Penance-Regimens, and Therapeutics (incl. Veterinary Care
अग्निर् उवाच शालिहोत्रः सुश्रुताय हयायुर्वेदमुक्तवान् पालकाप्यो ऽङ्गराजाय गजायुर्वेदमब्रवीत्
agnir uvāca śālihotraḥ suśrutāya hayāyurvedamuktavān pālakāpyo 'ṅgarājāya gajāyurvedamabravīt
Agni said: Śālihotra taught Suśruta the Āyurveda of horses; and Pālakāpya expounded the Āyurveda of elephants to the king of Aṅga.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Establishes authoritative lineages for veterinary Ayurveda—Aśva-āyurveda and Gaja-āyurveda—useful for clinicians, royal stables, and elephant corps management.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Lineage of Aśva-āyurveda and Gaja-āyurveda teachers","lookup_keywords":["Śālihotra","Suśruta","Aśva-āyurveda","Pālakāpya","Gaja-āyurveda"],"quick_summary":"Śālihotra is presented as transmitter of horse-medicine to Suśruta, and Pālakāpya as expounder of elephant-medicine to the Aṅga king—grounding veterinary science in named authorities."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Śāstra is validated through paramparā (teacher-to-student transmission) and domain specialization (species-specific medicine).
Application: When compiling or practicing veterinary care, cite and follow established authorities (Śālihotra/Pālakāpya) and maintain disciplined training of practitioners in that branch.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Veterinary Science: Aśva-āyurveda & Gaja-āyurveda)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni narrates; a sage Śālihotra instructs Suśruta beside a horse; elsewhere Pālakāpya teaches a king of Aṅga near a calm elephant, with medical instruments and herbs displayed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel didactic scene: left—sage teaching Suśruta with a horse; right—Pālakāpya advising Aṅga king beside elephant; bold outlines, flat colors, palm-leaf manuscript motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on royal attire and animal ornaments, sages with halos, horse and elephant richly caparisoned, manuscript and medicine bowls highlighted with gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity: sages pointing to anatomical regions of horse/elephant, gentle shading, labeled scrolls, calm court-and-āśrama setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly veterinary lesson: king seated with attendants, elephant in foreground, sage presenting a manuscript; separate vignette of Suśruta learning near a horse; fine botanical detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अग्निरुवाच = अग्निः + उवाच (ः + उ → र्); पालकाप्योऽङ्गराजाय = पालकाप्यः + अङ्गराजाय (ः + अ → ओऽ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 291 (Āyurveda section; transition into śānti and applied sciences)
FAQs
It identifies two specialized medical disciplines—Hayāyurveda (horse medicine) taught by Śālihotra and Gajāyurveda (elephant medicine) taught by Pālakāpya—highlighting authoritative lineages of veterinary Ayurveda.
By cataloging expert traditions in animal medicine alongside other sciences, it shows the Agni Purana’s scope extends beyond theology into applied knowledge crucial for kingship, warfare logistics, and public welfare (care of horses and elephants).
Preserving and applying life-supporting knowledge (āyur-vidyā) is treated as dharmic conduct: it supports non-harm, responsible stewardship of animals, and the righteous maintenance of royal resources, thereby accruing merit through compassionate governance.