Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 18
Chapter 280 — रसादिलक्षणम् / सर्वरोगहराण्यौषधानि
Characteristics of Taste and Related Factors; Medicines that Remove All Diseases
आहारो मैथुनं निद्रा तेषु यत्नः सदा भवेत् असेवनात् सेवनाच्च अत्यन्तं नाशमाप्नुयात्
āhāro maithunaṃ nidrā teṣu yatnaḥ sadā bhavet asevanāt sevanācca atyantaṃ nāśamāpnuyāt
Alimento, unión sexual y sueño: respecto de estos, debe haber siempre un esfuerzo disciplinado. Pues tanto la abstinencia total como la indulgencia excesiva pueden conducir a la ruina absoluta.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic disciplines)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Practice moderation and disciplined regulation of diet, sleep, and sexual activity; avoid both extreme abstinence and overindulgence to prevent physical and mental collapse.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Regulation of āhāra–nidrā–maithuna: avoiding extremes","lookup_keywords":["āhāra","nidrā","maithuna","niyama","atiyoga"],"quick_summary":"Health depends on disciplined care in food, sleep, and sex; both total suppression and excessive indulgence can cause severe harm."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Madhyamā-mārga (avoidance of extremes) as bodily and ethical discipline.
Application: Convert health into a vow-like daily practice: regulate core drives (food, sleep, sex) with consistent effort rather than oscillating between repression and indulgence.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Nīti (Regimen and self-restraint as a cause of health and stability)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A balanced-scale allegory: three bowls labeled food, sleep, and sex kept in equilibrium; on the sides, scenes of ruin from overindulgence and from harsh abstinence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central balance scale with three labeled elements, flanking narrative panels showing excess and deprivation leading to collapse, strong outlines and traditional colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate golden scale with three vessels, gold leaf emphasizing ‘moderation’, rich decorative borders, moral-instruction panel aesthetic.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic triptych: proper regulation in the center, extremes on left/right, fine linework, soft gradients, clear labeling for instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, moral allegory in a palace courtyard: a sage instructs a youth before a scale and three jars, side vignettes of debauchery and ascetic collapse, detailed textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सेवनाच्च → सेवनात् + च; नाशमाप्नुयात् → नाशम् + आप्नुयात्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 280.17 (upastambha-traya)
FAQs
It imparts practical regimen-knowledge: maintain measured discipline in diet, sex, and sleep, avoiding both overindulgence and total suppression, as extremes destabilize health and conduct.
Alongside rituals and theology, the Agni Purana also preserves applied life-sciences and nīti: rules for bodily regulation that function like preventive medicine and ethical governance of the senses.
Moderation supports sattva, steadies the mind, and prevents harm caused by craving or harsh denial; such self-regulation is treated as a foundation for purity, steadiness in dharma, and spiritual practice.