Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 39
अध्याय २७८: सिद्धौषधानि
Siddha Medicines / Perfected Remedies
वातशोणितनाशाय तोयं शस्तं सितं मधु पथ्या तथैव काशस्य मण्डं तक्रञ्च वारुणमिति ख , ञ , च यूषमिति ख , ज च नाशारोगेशु च हितं घृतं दुर्वाप्रसाधितम्
vātaśoṇitanāśāya toyaṃ śastaṃ sitaṃ madhu pathyā tathaiva kāśasya maṇḍaṃ takrañca vāruṇamiti kha , ña , ca yūṣamiti kha , ja ca nāśārogeśu ca hitaṃ ghṛtaṃ durvāprasādhitam
To alleviate vāta-śoṇita (a vāta disorder with vitiated blood), water is recommended; likewise sugar, honey, and harītakī (pathyā). Beneficial too are rice-gruel water (maṇḍa), buttermilk (takra), and the fermented liquor vāruṇī. (Some recensions read “yūṣa,” i.e., pulse-soup.) For diseases that also involve nasal afflictions, ghee (ghṛta) processed with durvā grass is beneficial.
Lord Agni (instructor-narrator of the Agni Purana, addressing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the standard frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Selecting simple drinks and medicated ghee for vāta-śoṇita and nasal disorders; guidance on pathya beverages and ghṛta-prayoga.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pathya for Vāta-śoṇita and nasal afflictions; Dūrvā-sādhita ghṛta","lookup_keywords":["vāta-śoṇita","pathyā","maṇḍa","takra","dūrvā-ghṛta"],"quick_summary":"For vāta-śoṇita, recommend water, sugar, honey, and harītakī, along with rice-gruel, buttermilk, and vāruṇī (or yūṣa in some readings). For nasal diseases, use ghee processed with dūrvā grass."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Pathya and simple dravya-prayoga as first-line therapy; medicated ghṛta as targeted support for specific srotas (e.g., nāsā).
Application: Use staged care: begin with simple liquids and mild adjuncts; add medicated ghee preparations for localized disorders (nasal/upper channels).
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies and dietetics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A physician prescribes a regimen for vāta-śoṇita: water, sugar, honey, harītakī, rice-gruel, buttermilk, and a jar labeled vāruṇī (with an alternate note 'yūṣa'); separately, dūrvā grass is simmered with ghee for a nasal remedy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel composition: left shows offerings of water pot, sugar, honey, harītakī fruits, maṇḍa and takra; right shows dūrvā grass being cooked into ghṛta; physician instructing; calm healing palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted vessels of ghṛta and honey; dūrvā rendered as auspicious green; physician blessing the preparation; ornate frame and rich reds.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear instructional steps: ingredients laid out with labels; small inset showing dūrvā-sādhita ghṛta preparation; emphasis on method and measurement.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature apothecary scene; attendant churns buttermilk, another strains rice-gruel; physician holds harītakī; a copper pot simmers ghee with dūrvā; marginal note indicating variant reading vāruṇī/yūṣa."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vātaśoṇitanāśāya = vāta + śoṇita + nāśāya; takrañca = takram + ca; nāśārogeśu = nāśa + arogeṣu; durvāprasādhitam = durvā + prasādhitam. 'kha/ña/ja' appear to be editorial/textual markers, treated as indeclinables.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 278 (Vāta disorders, blood involvement, and ghṛta preparations)
FAQs
Ayurvedic chikitsā: dietary and medicinal recommendations (water, sugar, honey, harītakī, rice-gruel, buttermilk, and durvā-processed ghee) indicated for vāta-śoṇita (vātarakta) and nasal ailments.
It exemplifies the Purana’s medical compendium style by embedding practical Ayurveda—specific foods, drinks, and medicated ghee formulations—alongside other disciplines, showing the text’s broad, handbook-like scope.
By prescribing sāttvika, regulated intake and therapeutic preparations, the verse supports bodily purification and balance (doṣa-śamana), which traditional dharma literature treats as conducive to steadiness in worship, vows, and meritorious conduct.