Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 40
Adhyaya 223 — Rājadharmāḥ
Royal Duties: Inner Palace Governance, Trivarga Protection, Courtly Conduct, and Aromatic/Hygienic Sciences
कटुकं दन्तकाष्ठञ्च गोमूत्रे वासितं त्र्यहं कृतञ्च पूगवद्राम मुखसौगन्धिकारकं
kaṭukaṃ dantakāṣṭhañca gomūtre vāsitaṃ tryahaṃ kṛtañca pūgavadrāma mukhasaugandhikārakaṃ
Las sustancias pungentes y el palillo dental (dantakāṣṭha), al mantenerse en remojo en orina de vaca durante tres días y luego formarse como un trozo de areca—oh Rāma—se convierten en productores de grata fragancia para la boca.
Lord Agni (instructing; address ‘O Rāma’ occurs within the instructional style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Preparation of mouth-fragrance/oral hygiene items by soaking pungent aromatics and a tooth-stick in cow’s urine for three days, then shaping/processing for use.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Go-mūtra-vāsita dantakāṣṭha and kaṭuka-dravya mouth-fragrance preparation","lookup_keywords":["go-mūtra","dantakāṣṭha (tooth-stick)","trī-ahna vāsana (3 days)","kaṭuka-dravya","mukha-saugandhya"],"quick_summary":"Soak pungent aromatics and a tooth-stick in cow’s urine for three days, then process into areca-like pieces to create a mouth-fragrance maker. Highlights timed soaking as a key processing step."}
Concept: Kāla (time) as an active factor in saṃskāra: trī-ahna soaking changes properties and usability.
Application: In pharmacy, specify duration and medium of soaking/infusion as essential parameters for reproducibility and intended effect.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Oral hygiene, deodorant, and mouth-perfume formulations)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tooth-stick and pungent aromatics submerged in a covered vessel labeled go-mūtra for three days; later shaped into small areca-like pieces for mouth fragrance and oral care.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, earthen pot with lid marked go-mūtra, tooth-sticks soaking, bowls of pungent spices nearby, later scene of shaping small pieces, muted traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold detailing, ritualized preparation: covered vessel, neatly arranged dantakāṣṭhas, aromatic spices, finished areca-like pieces on a tray, auspicious domestic setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical step-sequence: soak for three days (calendar marks), remove and dry, shape like pūga pieces, intended oral-use depiction, clear labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, apothecary workshop: jars and tooth-sticks, attendant noting three-day period, finished mouth-freshener pieces presented to a patron, fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दन्तकाष्ठञ्च→दन्त-काष्ठम्+च; त्र्यहं→त्रि-अहम् (द्विगु); कृतञ्च→कृतम्+च; पूगवद्राम→पूगवत्+राम.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 223 (mukha-saugandhya, dantakāṣṭha-related preparations)
FAQs
It teaches an Ayurvedic-style preparation for mouth fragrance: soak pungent aromatics and a tooth-stick in cow’s urine for three days, then form it like an areca/betel-nut piece to use as a mouth-deodorant/mouth-perfume.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical health regimens (dinacaryā-like guidance) such as dental cleaning and oral deodorants, showing its wide coverage of applied medicine and household practice.
By promoting bodily cleanliness and purity of speech-related organs (mouth/teeth), it supports ritual fitness and sattvic conduct—cleanliness being treated as conducive to merit and proper religious observance.