Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 48
Bala-graha-hara Bāla-tantram (बालग्रहहर बालतन्त्रम्) — Pediatric protection and graha-affliction management
वानरी षोडशी भूमौ पतेन्निद्रा सदा ज्वरः पायसाद्यैस्त्रिरात्रञ्च वलिः स्नानादि पूर्ववत्
vānarī ṣoḍaśī bhūmau patennidrā sadā jvaraḥ pāyasādyaistrirātrañca valiḥ snānādi pūrvavat
Si l’affliction dite Vānarī survient au seizième (jour lunaire), qu’on s’étende sur le sol ; il y aura somnolence et fièvre persistante. Pendant trois nuits, qu’on fasse une offrande bali avec du payasa (riz au lait) et des mets similaires ; le bain et les autres observances doivent être accomplis comme il a été dit précédemment.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Bhuta-Vidya","practical_application":"Management of the Vānarī affliction occurring on the sixteenth observance: prescribed posture (lying on the ground), recognition of sleep with persistent fever, and a three-night bali using pāyasa and similar foods with standard bathing preliminaries.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vānarī-graha on Ṣoḍaśī: bhūmi-śayana, pāyasa-bali for three nights, snāna-pūrvaka śānti","lookup_keywords":["Vānarī affliction","ṣoḍaśī","bhūmi-śayana","pāyasa bali","trirātra jvara"],"quick_summary":"If Vānarī manifests on the sixteenth, the patient lies on the ground and experiences sleep with ongoing fever; for three nights offer bali with rice-milk and perform bathing and other preliminaries as earlier prescribed."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Kāla (specific day), niyama (three-night continuity), and simple dravya (pāyasa) combine with bodily discipline (ground-rest) to pacify graha-framed fever states.
Application: Maintain regimen continuity across nights; pair rest and simple nourishment with the prescribed śānti routine rather than sporadic action.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Roga-pratikara / Bhuta-graha–śānti and remedial rites)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fever-śānti observance: the afflicted lies on the ground, appearing drowsy; each night for three nights the practitioner offers pāyasa as bali and performs bathing preliminaries at a small shrine/altar.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: patient on a mat on the ground, eyes half-closed; priest near a lamp-lit altar offering a bowl of pāyasa; water pot and bathing vessels present; warm ochres and deep reds, sacred calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-embellished altar and lamps; priest presenting pāyasa in a decorated bowl; patient resting on the floor; rich textiles and luminous highlights on vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear narrative of three-night sequence—three small panels or repeated motifs of offering pāyasa; patient resting; bathing vessels shown; fine lines and gentle colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: domestic courtyard at night with lanterns; patient lying on ground bedding; attendant brings pāyasa; priest performs bali at a small shrine; detailed food textures and architectural borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kafi (soothing, restorative)","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: patennidrā = patet + nidrā; pāyasādyais = pāyasa-ādyaiḥ; trirātrañca = tri-rātram + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 298 (snāna-pūrvavat; bali materials and day-wise graha rites)
FAQs
It prescribes a tithi-specific remedial protocol: for the condition termed Vānarī on the 16th lunar day, perform a three-night bali using pāyasa and related foods, along with bathing and the previously taught ancillary rites.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s blending of health discourse (symptoms like persistent fever and somnolence) with prescriptive ritual procedure (bali, snāna, set durations), showing how Purāṇic literature functions as a practical manual across domains.
By following the prescribed bali and purification acts (snāna, etc.) exactly “as previously stated,” the practitioner is understood to pacify the causative disturbance and restore auspiciousness, aligning bodily relief with ritual purification.