Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 34
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
अष्टषष्टिस्तु शाखासु षष्टिश् चैकविवर्जिता अन्तरा वै त्र्यशीतिश् च स्नायोर् नवशतानि च
aṣṭaṣaṣṭistu śākhāsu ṣaṣṭiś caikavivarjitā antarā vai tryaśītiś ca snāyor navaśatāni ca
En las extremidades (śākhā) hay sesenta y ocho huesos; en el tronco hay sesenta, excluyendo uno. En las partes intermedias hay ochenta y tres; y los tendones/ligamentos (snāyu) son novecientos en número.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Bone and sinew enumeration for śārīra-śikṣā; supports marma awareness, injury assessment, and understanding musculoskeletal integrity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śākhā-madhya-antara asthi-saṅkhyā and snāyu-saṅkhyā","lookup_keywords":["śākhā-asthi","madhya-asthi","antara-asthi","snāyu","śārīra-saṅkhyā"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates bones by regions (limbs, trunk, intermediate parts) and gives a total count of sinews (snāyu) as a memorized anatomical standard."}
Concept: Body knowledge as structured enumeration (aṅga-vibhāga) enabling applied medical competence.
Application: Curricular scaffold for students: region-wise recall of asthi and snāyu.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Sharira-rachana (Anatomy and physiological enumeration)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Regional body map dividing limbs, trunk, and intermediate parts, with bone counts and sinew network indicated like cords across joints.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized human figure segmented into śākhā, madhya, antara zones with decorative borders; sinews drawn as flowing white lines; guru reciting counts from palm-leaf; warm ochres and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate instructional panel with gold outlines; three-part body segmentation; sinews shown as gilded threads; inscriptions of numbers; teacher and student at bottom with rich textile patterns.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: diagrammatic clarity—limbs/trunk/intermediate labeled; sinew lines in fine ink; soft color wash; minimal ornament; emphasis on educational chart aesthetics.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: physician’s studio with anatomical scroll; figure drawn with delicate sinew tracery; assistants taking notes; fine borders and calligraphy for śākhā/madhya/antara and snāyu count."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: aṣṭaṣaṣṭiḥ = aṣṭa + ṣaṣṭiḥ; aṣṭaṣaṣṭistu = aṣṭaṣaṣṭiḥ + tu; śaṣṭiś ca = ṣaṣṭiḥ + ca; caikavivarjitā = ca + eka-vivarjitā; tryaśītiḥ = tri + aśītiḥ; snāyor = snāyoḥ (visarga→r before voiced consonant); navaśatāni = nava + śatāni.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369.33 (asthi/sandhi counts); Agni Purana 369.36 (peśī counts)
FAQs
It imparts anatomical enumeration (śarīra-saṅkhyā)—a technical Ayurvedic-style listing of counts for bones/segments in limbs, trunk, intermediate regions, and the number of snāyu (sinews/ligaments).
By preserving systematic, quasi-medical body-taxonomies (counts and classifications of structures), the Agni Purana functions as a compendium that extends beyond myth into applied knowledge domains such as Ayurveda and anatomy.
Such anatomical knowledge supports disciplined self-understanding and purity-oriented practice: knowing the body’s constituents aids detachment and correct observance in health, ritual fitness, and sādhana grounded in awareness of embodied nature.