Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 21
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
अकचटतपयशहान् मानवश्चेत् प्रश्नाक्षराणि तु अग्नेर्ध्वजादिपातिताः स्वस्थाने शल्यमाख्यान्ति
akacaṭatapayaśahān mānavaścet praśnākṣarāṇi tu agnerdhvajādipātitāḥ svasthāne śalyamākhyānti
Si une personne, interrogée, ne profère que les syllabes ‘a’, ‘ka’, ‘ca’, ‘ṭa’, ‘ta’, ‘pa’, ‘ya’, ‘śa’, ‘ha’, alors—selon l’augure—l’étendard d’Agni abattu et autres signes semblables indiquent que le śalya (corps étranger) demeure logé à sa place (c’est‑à‑dire encore enchâssé).
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Prognostic/diagnostic omen-reading in śalya cases: patient’s restricted syllabic utterances and Agni-banner omens indicate the foreign body remains lodged.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śalya-sthiti-nimitta: syllabic utterance and Agni-dhvaja omen","lookup_keywords":["śalya-sthiti","nimitta","praśna-akṣara","agni-dhvaja","nidāna"],"quick_summary":"Certain constrained syllables spoken in response to questioning, together with Agni-related omens like a fallen banner, are taken to signify that the foreign body is still embedded."}
Concept: Nimitta as auxiliary pramāṇa: interpret speech-patterns and external signs to guide clinical decision-making when direct observation is limited.
Application: Use omen-based heuristics as adjuncts (not substitutes) to examination—prompting further inspection/intervention in suspected retained foreign body.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Shalya / Nidana—prognostic and diagnostic signs)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A physician questions a patient who can only utter certain syllables; nearby, an Agni-banner or emblem is shown fallen, interpreted as a sign that the foreign body remains lodged.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, physician in profile questioning patient, stylized syllables shown as small script-like marks, a fallen banner with Agni emblem in the background, restrained palette and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted Agni emblem on a toppled banner, physician and patient in formal poses, emphasis on symbolic omen elements, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: patient speech syllables written near mouth, physician pointing, inset of fallen Agni-dhvaja, clean lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate diagnostic scene with a banner standard fallen to one side, physician observing and taking counsel, fine calligraphic depiction of syllables as visual motif."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kafi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मानवश्चेत् = मानवः + चेत् (ः + च → श्च). अग्नेर्ध्वजादिपातिताः = अग्नेः + ध्वजादिपातिताः (ः + ध → र्ध by visarga sandhi). शल्यमाख्यान्ति = शल्यम् + आख्यान्ति (म् + आ → मा).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Śakuna/Nimitta portions linked with medical prognostics; Agni Purana Ayurveda nidāna sections on signs (liṅga) and prognosis (sādhya/asādhya)
FAQs
It gives a diagnostic/prognostic indicator used in Śalya (surgical) context: specific uttered syllables during questioning, together with Agni-related omen signs (like a banner falling), are taken to indicate that the foreign body remains embedded in place.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves applied medical knowledge—here, a Shalya-Tantra style prognosis combining patient response patterns with omen-based interpretation, showing the text’s wide coverage of practical sciences.
By framing diagnosis through Agni-associated signs, the verse links healing to sacred order and auspice: correct recognition of signs supports right action (timely treatment), which is treated as dharmic care that reduces harm and supports purity and well-being.