Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 41
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
उरस्यकक्षपक्षांस्तु कल्प्यानेतान् प्रचक्षते उरःकक्षौ च पक्षौ च मध्यं पृष्ठं प्रतिग्रहः
urasyakakṣapakṣāṃstu kalpyānetān pracakṣate uraḥkakṣau ca pakṣau ca madhyaṃ pṛṣṭhaṃ pratigrahaḥ
En cuanto a la región del “pecho”, estas son las divisiones que deben delinearse conceptualmente y nombrarse: el pecho (uras), las axilas (kakṣā), los flancos o alas (pakṣa), el centro (madhya), la espalda (pṛṣṭha) y la zona de recepción o sostén (pratigraha).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic topics, here anatomical nomenclature)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Provide standardized anatomical region-names for diagnosis, trauma description, and therapeutic procedures (bandaging, massage, surgery/shalya references).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Uras-pradeśa vibhāga: uros, kakṣā, pakṣa, madhya, pṛṣṭha, pratigraha","lookup_keywords":["uras","kakṣā","pakṣa","pṛṣṭha","pratigraha"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates conceptual divisions around the chest/torso region, establishing a shared vocabulary for locating pain, injury, and treatment sites."}
Concept: Correct naming (saṃjñā) enables correct action (cikitsā/karma) by fixing location and function.
Application: Adopt consistent anatomical terminology in teaching, case-notes, and inter-practitioner communication.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Sharira-Rachana (Anatomical terminology and body-part classification)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teaching scene where an instructor points to a human torso diagram labeling uros, kakṣā, pakṣa, madhya, pṛṣṭha, and pratigraha.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized physician-teacher with palm-leaf manuscript, frontal torso diagram with labeled regions, bold lines, earthy reds/ochres, ornamental border","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on the teacher’s seat and manuscript, a clear torso chart with region labels, serene scholarly setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional anatomical plate aesthetic, fine outlines and soft colors, labels in Devanagari near chest/armpit/flank/back regions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court physician teaching apprentices, a parchment torso sketch with labels, delicate interior setting with books and instruments"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: urasyakakṣapakṣān+tu → उरस्यकक्षपक्षांस्तु; kalpyān+etān → कल्प्यानेतान्; uraḥ+kakṣau → उरःकक्षौ. The latter half is an enumerative nominal sentence listing parts.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 241.42 (uses uros/kakṣā/pakṣa as vyūha-limbs, showing shared body/army analogy)
FAQs
This verse imparts Śarīra-saṃjñā (technical anatomical nomenclature): it defines standard regional divisions around the thorax—chest, axillae, flanks, midline, and back—used for clinical description and localization.
By codifying precise anatomical labels, the text functions like a reference manual—integrating Ayurvedic-style body mapping alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences—demonstrating the Agni Purana’s multi-disciplinary, encyclopedic scope.
While primarily technical, such ordered classification supports correct practice (yukti) in healing and disciplined knowledge (vidyā), which the Purāṇic worldview treats as dharmic conduct when used for protection and welfare of beings.