Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 4
Chapter 291 — Śāntyāyurveda
Ayurveda for Pacificatory Rites): Go-śānti, Penance-Regimens, and Therapeutics (incl. Veterinary Care
रोचना विषरक्षोघ्नी ग्रासदः स्वर्गगो गवां यद्गृहे दुःखिता गावः स याति नरकन्नरः
rocanā viṣarakṣoghnī grāsadaḥ svargago gavāṃ yadgṛhe duḥkhitā gāvaḥ sa yāti narakannaraḥ
રોચના વિષનો નાશ કરે છે અને રાક્ષસ-સમૂહ (હાનિકારક ભૂતપ્રેત)ને દૂર કરે છે; ગાયોને ચારો આપનાર સ્વર્ગને પામે છે. પરંતુ જેના ઘરમાં ગાયો દુઃખિત રહે, તે મનુષ્ય નરકમાં જાય છે.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s primary narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Ethical injunctions on cow-care (feeding, preventing distress) and a protective use-claim for rocanā against poison and harmful entities.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Rocanā as viṣa-rakṣā and gau-sevā phala (svarga/naraka)","lookup_keywords":["rochana","visha-raksha","go-grasa","svarga","naraka"],"quick_summary":"Rocanā is credited with countering poison and malevolent influences; feeding cows yields heavenly merit, while keeping cows distressed at home is condemned as a cause of hellish consequence."}
Concept: Ahimsā and responsibility: merit accrues by nourishing cows; neglect causing distress is adharma with grave karmic result.
Application: Ensure adequate fodder, water, shade, and veterinary attention; treat animal welfare as a binding household duty.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Danadharma (Ethics of livelihood, gifts, and righteous conduct)
Primary Rasa: dharma
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder offering fodder to cows (go-grāsa-dāna) with a radiant path upward symbolizing svarga; contrasting vignette of neglected, distressed cows at a house gate indicating naraka warning; rocanā shown as a yellow protective mark/substance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel moral tableau: left—devotee feeding cows with serene aura; right—distressed cows near a darkened house, admonitory tone; rocanā as bright yellow protective smear in the devotee’s hand.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central cow with ornate gold accents, householder offering fodder, celestial attendants above indicating svarga, rocanā highlighted in gold-yellow, moral clarity and auspicious framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, narrative clarity with labeled actions: ‘go-grāsa’ offering, ‘duḥkhitā gāvaḥ’ neglect scene, rocanā depicted as a small yellow container used for protection.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard with cows being fed, subtle allegorical clouds showing heavenward ascent; contrasting shadowed corner with neglected cows; refined facial expressions conveying compassion vs neglect."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Dhanyasi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विषरक्षोघ्नी = विष + रक्षः + घ्नी; यद्गृहे = यत् + गृहे; नरकन्नरः = नरकम् + नरः (anusvāra/nn sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Go-dāna merits; Agni Purana: Prāyaścitta/śauca on cow-products
FAQs
It teaches go-sevā as a dharmic practice: feeding cows (grāsa-dāna) is meritorious, and it notes rocana/gorocanā as a traditionally protective substance used against poison and malignant influences.
It blends ethical governance/householder duty (rajadharma and dāna) with applied traditional knowledge about protective substances (gorocanā), showing how the text spans both moral law and practical culture.
Supporting cows brings svarga (favorable post-mortem destiny), while neglect that causes their suffering is framed as a serious demerit leading to naraka—highlighting accountability for cruelty and neglect.