Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 26
Chapter 228 — स्वप्नाध्यायः
Svapnādhāyaḥ / Chapter on Dreams
मुखेन दोहनं शस्तं महिषीणां तथा गवां सिंहीनां हस्तिनीनाञ्च बडवानां तथैव च
mukhena dohanaṃ śastaṃ mahiṣīṇāṃ tathā gavāṃ siṃhīnāṃ hastinīnāñca baḍavānāṃ tathaiva ca
La traite par la bouche (tirer le lait par succion) est prescrite comme convenable pour les bufflonnes et aussi pour les vaches ; et de même pour les lionnes, les éléphantes et les juments.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Veterinary/animal-management technique: using oral suction to draw milk in difficult cases across specified animals; practical husbandry guidance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pāśu-cikitsā: Mukhena-dohana (Oral suction milking)","lookup_keywords":["pāśu-cikitsā","mukhena-dohana","mahīṣī","gāvaḥ","hastinī/badava"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes mouth-suction milking as an appropriate method for certain animals (buffalo, cow, lioness, she-elephant, mare), implying a pragmatic technique for extracting milk when needed."}
Concept: Care of dependent beings (pāśu) through applied technique; knowledge as serviceable craft.
Application: Maintain livestock productivity and animal welfare by knowing alternative milking methods and species-specific handling.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Pashu-chikitsa (Veterinary and animal-husbandry guidance)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stable/pasture scene: attendants manage different animals (cow, buffalo, mare, she-elephant; lioness in a controlled enclosure) while a practitioner demonstrates mouth-suction milking with careful restraint of the animal.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: pastoral enclosure with cow and buffalo foreground, mare and she-elephant behind, a guarded lioness pen at side; attendant performing mukhena-dohana; earthy palette, strong outlines, clear narrative arrangement","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: richly adorned royal stable with gold accents on harnesses, cow/buffalo central, elephant and horse attendants, lioness shown symbolically; practitioner demonstrating suction milking; ornate border and luminous finish","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional illustration: labeled animals and stepwise depiction of mukhena-dohana posture and restraint methods; soft colors, precise linework, emphasis on technique","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed menagerie scene with attendants, animals rendered naturalistically; practitioner milking a cow/buffalo by suction; elephant and horse in background, lioness in a cage; fine textiles and architectural stable details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hastinīnām+ca → hastinīnāñca; tathā+eva → tathaiva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Ayurveda/pāśu-cikitsā related passages (contextual)
FAQs
It gives a technical, practical instruction in animal-husbandry: for certain animals (buffalo, cow, lioness, she-elephant, mare), oral suction is stated as an approved method of initiating or performing milking (dohana).
Beyond theology, it preserves applied knowledge—here, a procedural note from veterinary/household economy—showing the Purana’s wide scope that includes agriculture, livestock care, and pragmatic techniques alongside religious teaching.
The verse primarily functions as pragmatic guidance; indirectly, proper care and non-injurious handling of animals aligns with dharmic conduct (ahiṃsā and responsible stewardship), supporting household purity and righteous livelihood.