Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 14
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
रक्तमांसप्रसाराच्च भवन्त्यन्त्राणि देहिनां सार्धत्रिव्यामसंख्यानि तानि नॄणां विनिर्दिशेत्
raktamāṃsaprasārācca bhavantyantrāṇi dehināṃ sārdhatrivyāmasaṃkhyāni tāni nṝṇāṃ vinirdiśet
De la propagación de la sangre y la carne surgen los intestinos (órganos internos de forma tubular) de los seres encarnados. Su medida se dice que es de tres vyāmas y medio; por ello debe indicarse específicamente con referencia a los humanos.
Lord Agni (narrating the encyclopedic teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Anatomical doctrine for describing origin and measurement of intestines; supports śārīra knowledge used in surgery, diagnosis, and understanding internal pathways.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Origin and measure of the intestines (antra)","lookup_keywords":["antra","rakta-māṃsa-prasāra","vyāma","śārīra","pramāṇa"],"quick_summary":"Intestines are said to arise from the extension/spread of blood and flesh. In humans their measure is given as three and a half vyāmas, serving as a traditional anatomical metric."}
Concept: The body is describable through measurable structures (pramāṇa) and material derivations (rakta/māṃsa).
Application: Employ standardized measures (vyāma-based) for communicating anatomical proportions in teaching and practice.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Sharira-rachana / Anatomy)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traditional anatomical illustration of the human torso showing intestines as tubular coils, with a measuring cord indicating ‘3.5 vyāmas’, and a teacher explaining their origin from blood and flesh.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized human figure with semi-transparent abdomen revealing coiled intestines, red (rakta) and flesh-toned (māṃsa) layers, a measuring cord marked ‘3½ vyāma’, guru instructing students.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate frame with gold leaf, central standing human figure with symbolic intestines, measurement ribbon ‘3½ vyāma’, teacher holding palm-leaf text, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional diagram aesthetic, labeled intestines (antra), arrows from rakta and māṃsa to antra, measurement scale in vyāma units, subdued background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician-scholar in a study, detailed anatomical scroll depicting intestines and a measuring line, fine calligraphy noting ‘sārdha-tri-vyāma’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रक्तमांसप्रसाराच्च = रक्त + मांस + प्रसारात् + च; भवन्त्यन्त्राणि = भवन्ति + अन्त्राणि; सार्धत्रिव्यामसंख्यानि = सार्ध + त्रिव्याम + संख्यानि (त्रिव्याम = त्रि + व्याम, तत्पुरुष).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Śārīra passages on dhātu formation and organ derivation; Agni Purana sections listing aṅga-praty-aṅga and pramāṇa
FAQs
It imparts Ayurvedic śarīra-vidyā: a technical anatomical statement describing the origin and standardized measurement of the intestines (antrāṇi) in humans using the unit vyāma.
By shifting from mythic narration to quantifiable body-science (anatomy and measurement), it shows the Agni Purāṇa’s compendium style—preserving medical/anatomical data alongside ritual, dharma, and other disciplines.
While primarily technical, it supports dharmic living by promoting correct knowledge of the body as a field for disciplined conduct and health—enabling proper practice of duties (dharma) through bodily well-being.