Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 23
Bala-graha-hara Bāla-tantram (बालग्रहहर बालतन्त्रम्) — Pediatric protection and graha-affliction management
छर्धिः स्यान्मुखशोषादिपुष्पगन्धांशुकानि च अपूपमोदनं दीपः कृष्णं नीरादि धूपकम्
chardhiḥ syānmukhaśoṣādipuṣpagandhāṃśukāni ca apūpamodanaṃ dīpaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ nīrādi dhūpakam
There may be vomiting, along with dryness of the mouth and related symptoms. For this, fragrant cloths scented with flowers may be used; apūpa-cakes and modaka-sweets may be offered. A lamp (dīpa) should be employed, and a black fumigant (kṛṣṇa dhūpaka) prepared from nīra and other substances is recommended.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Symptom listing and combined therapy (fumigation, lamp use, scented cloths, and diet offerings) for mouth/throat-related distress with vomiting and dryness, framed within graha/ritual-medical management.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mukhā-śoṣa with chardi: sugandha-vastra, apūpa/modaka, dīpa, and kṛṣṇa dhūpaka (nīra-ādi)","lookup_keywords":["chardi","mukha-śoṣa","apūpa","modaka","dhūpaka"],"quick_summary":"For vomiting with mouth dryness, employ scented cloths, specific foods (apūpa, modaka), lamp use, and a ‘black’ fumigant prepared from nīra and related substances as supportive therapy."}
Concept: Integrated therapeutics: sensory environment (gandha, dīpa, dhūpa) and diet are part of treatment, not merely medicine-as-drug.
Application: Use multi-modal care—smell, warmth/light, and appropriate foods—alongside medicated fumigation for symptomatic relief.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Roga-nidana & Chikitsa: disorders of the mouth/throat; medicated fumigation and dietetics)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A caregiver tending a patient/child with dry mouth and vomiting; fragrant cloths are offered, sweets (apūpa, modaka) set aside, a lamp burns steadily, and dark fumigation smoke rises from a brazier labeled as nīra-ādi dhūpa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; interior healing scene with stylized lamp flame, incense smoke in dark swirls, attendant holding flower-scented cloth, offerings of sweets, compassionate expressions, earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting; central lamp with gold leaf glow, ornate bowls of apūpa and modaka, rich textiles, dark incense smoke contrasted against bright background, devotional-healing ambiance.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style; clear instructional layout—lamp placement, fumigation brazier, scented cloths, food items—caregiver demonstrating steps, fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; detailed domestic medical scene, physician/caregiver presenting scented cloth, sweets on a tray, lamp and brazier with dark smoke, delicate realism and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syānmukha- → syāt + mukha-; mūrdhanya/visarga sandhi in chardhiḥ syāt; puṣpagandhāṃśukāni → puṣpa-gandha-aṃśukāni.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 298.20 (symptom-based intervention and dhūpana); Agni Purana 298.19 (duration of protective regimen)
FAQs
It gives a practical Ayurvedic protocol: recognizing vomiting with mouth-dryness and applying supportive measures—fragrant cloths, sweet nourishing foods (apūpa/modaka), and medicated fumigation (dhūpaka), with a dīpa as part of the procedure.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves applied health-knowledge—symptom notes, diet (pathya-like foods), and procedures such as dhūpana—showing its coverage of practical Ayurveda within a Purāṇic framework.
By prescribing purity-enhancing measures like fragrant substances and fumigation, the verse aligns bodily care with purification; maintaining health is treated as supportive to dharma-practice and ritual fitness.