Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 61
अध्याय २७८: सिद्धौषधानि
Siddha Medicines / Perfected Remedies
कन्ठ्यं वृद्धिप्रदञ्चैवेति ख प्रत्युपचारैश्चेति ख कलसंयुतेति क निर्गुण्डी शारिवा सेलुर्लूताविषहरो गदः शिरोविरेचनं शस्तं गुडनागरकं द्विज
kanṭhyaṃ vṛddhipradañcaiveti kha pratyupacāraiśceti kha kalasaṃyuteti ka nirguṇḍī śārivā selurlūtāviṣaharo gadaḥ śirovirecanaṃ śastaṃ guḍanāgarakaṃ dvija
«C’est salutaire pour la gorge et cela favorise aussi la croissance (la nutrition)»,—ainsi est-il dit. «Et il convient de l’employer avec les mesures d’accompagnement appropriées (soins post-thérapeutiques)»,—ainsi est-il dit. «(Préparé/utilisé) avec un récipient (kalasa)»,—ainsi est-il dit. La préparation composée de nirguṇḍī, śārivā et selu est un remède qui détruit le venin d’araignée; et pour la purgation de la tête (śirovirecana), on recommande une préparation de jaggery avec du gingembre sec, ô deux-fois-né.
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Use specific formulations for spider-toxin management and employ śirovirecana with appropriate post-therapies; prepare guda-śuṇṭhī for head-cleansing support.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Lūtā-Viṣahara Yoga & Śirovirecana (Nirguṇḍī–Śārivā–Selu; Guda–Nāgara)","lookup_keywords":["lūtā-viṣa","nirguṇḍī","śārivā","śirovirecana","guda-nāgara"],"quick_summary":"A tri-herb remedy is stated to neutralize spider-poison, and jaggery with dry ginger is recommended for head-purification therapy, with emphasis on proper attendant/post measures."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Therapy is not only the main drug but also proper upacāra (attendant measures) and correct procedural context (śirovirecana).
Application: In pañcakarma-like procedures, emphasize pre/post regimen (pathya-apathya, warming/cooling, rest) alongside the formulation.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies: toxicology and head-purification therapies)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A physician prepares a tri-herb remedy for spider poison and separately mixes jaggery with dry ginger for a head-cleansing regimen, with a vessel (kalaśa) and post-therapy items arranged.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, warm ochres, vaidya with palm-leaf manuscript, grinding nirguṇḍī and śārivā, a small spider motif near the patient, a kalaśa placed prominently, calm therapeutic ambiance","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold highlights, central medicinal kalaśa, physician presenting guda-nāgara mixture, ornate borders with stylized herbs and a subtle spider emblem, devotional-clinical fusion","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout: three herbs labeled nirguṇḍī/śārivā/selu on a tray, second tray with jaggery and dry ginger, arrows indicating ‘lūtā-viṣahara’ and ‘śirovirecana’, clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, apothecary interior, physician measuring powders, patient seated with head cloth for purification, detailed kalaśa and spice jars, tiny spider in margin"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kafi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वृद्धिप्रदञ्च = वृद्धि-प्रदम् + च (अनुस्वार/व्यञ्जन-सन्धि). प्रत्युपचारैश्च = प्रति-उपचारैः + च (विसर्ग-सन्धि). कलसंयुतेति = कलश-संयुता + इति (स्वर-सन्धि). लूताविषहरः = लूता-विष-हरः. शिरोविरेचनम् = शिरः-विरेचनम् (विसर्ग-लोप). गुडनागरकम् = गुड-नागरकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 278 (toxicology and therapies); Agni Purana 278.62-63 (snehapāna, vasti, svedana, stambhana; virecana/vamana drugs)
FAQs
Ayurvedic technical guidance: (1) an herbal antidote for spider-poison using nirguṇḍī, śārivā, and selu; and (2) a śirovirecana (head-purgation/cranial cleansing) recommendation using a guḍa–nāgaraka (jaggery–dry ginger) preparation, along with proper post-therapy measures.
It demonstrates the Agni Purana’s inclusion of practical medical science—materia medica (herbs), toxicology (poison-remedies), and procedural therapy (śirovirecana with pratyupacāra/post-care)—alongside its religious and philosophical contents.
By preserving life through antidotes and employing purificatory therapies (virecana as a cleansing discipline), the instruction aligns bodily purification with dharmic conduct—supporting health as a foundation for ritual duty, study, and spiritual practice.