Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 10
अध्यायः २८६ — गजचिकित्सा
Elephant Medicine
मूर्छासु भोजयेन्नागं क्षौद्रन्तोयञ्च पाययेत् अग्यङ्गः शिरसः शूले नस्यञ्चैव प्रशस्यते
mūrchāsu bhojayennāgaṃ kṣaudrantoyañca pāyayet agyaṅgaḥ śirasaḥ śūle nasyañcaiva praśasyate
મૂર્ચ્છામાં નાગ (સીસું) ભોજનરૂપે આપવું અને ક્ષૌદ્ર-તોય (મધુ-જળ) પાવું. શિરઃશૂલમાં શિરોઽભ્યંગ તથા નસ્ય—બન્ને પ્રશસ્ત છે.
Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Emergency and symptomatic care: management of mūrcchā (syncope) with honey-water and specified ingestion; headache management with head oiling and nasya.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mūrcchā (Fainting) and Śiroruja (Headache): Madhu-toya, Abhyaṅga, and Nasya","lookup_keywords":["mūrcchā","madhu-toya","śiraḥ-śūla","abhyaṅga","nasya"],"quick_summary":"For fainting, administer honey-water and the specified food-dravya; for headache, apply head oil massage and perform nasya as primary measures."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Kriyā-kramatā: immediate supportive measures (pāna) followed by localized therapies (abhyaṅga, nasya) for śiro-vikāra.
Application: Use simple, accessible interventions first (honey-water), then targeted pañcakarma-adjacent procedures for head disorders.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Chikitsa / Therapeutics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A patient recovering from fainting is offered honey-water by an attendant; in a second vignette, the physician performs head oil massage and prepares a nasya dropper near the patient’s nostrils.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel composition: left—patient seated supported, honey-water offered; right—śiro-abhyaṅga with flowing oil lines and nasya vessel, stylized clinic interior.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold highlights on the nasya pot and oil bowl, physician with ornate attire, patient reclining, warm palette emphasizing healing ritual.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic depiction of nasya posture (head slightly tilted), precise hands administering drops, fine detailing of massage strokes on scalp.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate medical chamber, attendant offering honey-water, physician preparing nasya, realistic textiles and vessels, delicate facial expressions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्षौद्रन्तोयञ्च → क्षौद्रम् + तोयम् + च; नस्यञ्चैव → नस्यं + च + एव
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda khanda: nasya-vidhi; śiro-roga cikitsā; mūrcchā/prāṇa-sthāna discussions
FAQs
Ayurvedic therapeutics: managing fainting with a specific dietary/medicinal administration (nāga) and honey-water, and treating headache through head oil-massage (abhyanga) and nasal therapy (nasya).
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium beyond theology—preserving practical medical protocols (diet-drink prescriptions and pañcakarma-style procedures like nasya) alongside other sciences.
By promoting preservation of life and relief of suffering through dharmic, traditional healing methods, it aligns bodily care (śarīra-dhāraṇa) with righteous living, supporting one’s capacity to perform duties and worship.