Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 8
अध्याय २७८: सिद्धौषधानि
Siddha Medicines / Perfected Remedies
अधोगे वमनं शस्तमूर्ध्वगे च विरेचनम् रक्तपित्ते तथा पानं षडङ्गं शुण्ठिवर्जितम्
adhoge vamanaṃ śastamūrdhvage ca virecanam raktapitte tathā pānaṃ ṣaḍaṅgaṃ śuṇṭhivarjitam
Cuando el trastorno se desplaza hacia abajo, se recomienda el vómito terapéutico (vamana); y cuando se desplaza hacia arriba, la purga (virecana). Asimismo, en raktapitta debe administrarse como bebida la preparación “ṣaḍaṅga”, excluyendo el jengibre seco (śuṇṭhī).
Lord Agni (narrating Ayurvedic therapeutic guidance to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Directional doṣa-gati based śodhana choice (vamana vs virechana) and use of ṣaḍaṅga-pāna (without śuṇṭhī) in raktapitta.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Doṣa-Gati Śodhana: Vamana/Virechana and Ṣaḍaṅga-Pāna in Raktapitta","lookup_keywords":["raktapitta","vamana","virechana","doṣa-gati","ṣaḍaṅga"],"quick_summary":"Select emesis or purgation according to the direction of morbid flow; in bleeding disorders (raktapitta), administer the cooling ṣaḍaṅga drink omitting dry ginger."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Therapy must match the vector of pathology (gati) and the heat of pitta; avoid contradictory (uṣṇa) substances in bleeding disorders.
Application: Triage logic for śodhana selection and formulation adjustment.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Cikitsā—Therapeutics; Śodhana for Raktapitta and doṣa-gati)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A physician assesses whether the disorder is moving upward or downward, choosing emesis or purgation; a cooling ṣaḍaṅga drink is prepared with ginger intentionally set aside.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel composition: left panel vamana setup, right panel virechana setup; central bowl of ṣaḍaṅga drink, śuṇṭhī kept apart; patient with signs of raktapitta, calm authoritative vaidya","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted medicine vessels, physician holding palm-leaf notes ‘ūrdhva/adho’, ornate cup of ṣaḍaṅga-pāna, ginger root shown crossed-out symbolically","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic diagram-like scene: arrows indicating gati (up/down), corresponding therapy icons, ingredient list for ṣaḍaṅga with śuṇṭhī omitted","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, clinic scene with physician and assistants, patient with cloth stained (suggesting bleeding), attendants preparing a cooling drink; ginger placed aside on a tray"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śastam+ūrdhvage → शस्तमूर्ध्वगे; ṣaṭ+aṅgam → षडङ्गम्; śuṇṭhi+varjitam → शुण्ठिवर्जितम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda khanda: raktapitta-cikitsā and śodhana rules; Agni Purana dravya-yoga entries for ṣaḍaṅga preparations
FAQs
It gives Ayurvedic śodhana indications: choose vamana or virecana according to whether the morbid condition is moving downward or upward, and prescribes a ṣaḍaṅga-pāna (six-ingredient drink) for raktapitta with śuṇṭhī omitted.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves applied medical protocols—clinical decision rules (gati-based choice of emesis/purgation) and formulation guidance—showing it functions as a compendium of practical sciences including Ayurveda.
By advocating purificatory therapies and regulated medicinal intake, the verse aligns bodily purification with the broader purāṇic ideal of śuddhi (cleansing), supporting health as a foundation for dharma, worship, and disciplined living.