Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 24

Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः

The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body

Devanagari script

मांसस्नायुशिरास्थिन्यः चत्वारश् च पृथक् पृथक् मणिबन्धनगुल्फेषु निबद्धानि परस्परं

Transliteration

māṃsasnāyuśirāsthinyaḥ catvāraś ca pṛthak pṛthak maṇibandhanagulpheṣu nibaddhāni parasparaṃ

Translation

માંસ, સ્નાયુ, શિરા અને અસ્થિ—આ ચારેય, દરેક અલગ—મણિબંધ (કાંડા) અને ગુલ્ફ (ટખા) સંધિમાં પરસ્પર બંધાયેલા રહે છે.

Word by Word

• māṃsa-snāyu-śirā-asthin-yaḥ: flesh, tendons, veins, and bones (as a group)
• māṃsa-snāyu-śirā-asthin-yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + snāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + śirā (प्रातिपदिक) + asthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound (समास): Dvandva (समाहार/इतरेतर); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• catvāraḥ: four
• catvāraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāri/catur (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्याविशेषण); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) (used as count)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• pṛthak: separately
• pṛthak: Prakāra (प्रकार/ manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• pṛthak: each separately
• pṛthak: Prakāra (प्रकार/ manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), repetition for emphasis

• maṇibandhana-gulpheṣu: in the wrists and ankles
• maṇibandhana-gulpheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇibandhana (प्रातिपदिक) + gulpha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound (समास): Dvandva; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nibaddhāni: are bound/fastened
• nibaddhāni: Kriyā (क्रिया/ verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√bandh (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत: क्त); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); used predicatively ‘are bound/fastened’

• parasparam: mutually/to each other
• parasparam: Prakāra (प्रकार/ manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Reciprocal adverb (परस्परम्; क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Clinical anatomy for understanding joint integrity (wrist/ankle) in trauma care, marma-avoidance, bandaging, and therapeutic manipulation (abhyanga/mardana).","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Wrist and ankle joint binding: māṃsa–snāyu–śirā–asthi interlock","lookup_keywords":["maṇibandha","gulpha","māṃsa","snāyu","śirā","asthi"],"quick_summary":"States that muscle, tendon/ligament, vessel, and bone remain distinct yet mutually bound at the wrist and ankle—highlighting composite joint structure relevant to injury and therapy."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Functional unity arises from distinct components being ‘bound together’ (paraspra-nibaddha) at key junctions.

Application: Apply systems-thinking in therapy: treat joints by considering all contributing tissues rather than a single structure.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Sharira-Rachana (Anatomy and Marma/Joint-structure teaching)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close anatomical focus on wrist and ankle showing four distinct tissues—muscle, tendon/ligament, vessel, and bone—interlaced and bound at the joint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized limb close-up, layered bands representing māṃsa, snāyu, śirā, asthi around maṇibandha and gulpha, clear contours, didactic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, two inset panels (wrist and ankle), gold-highlighted outlines for bone and vessel paths, embossed decorative frame, instructional iconography.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, medical-illustration clarity, labeled-looking color coding for four tissues at wrist and ankle, minimal background, precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, hakim/vaidya demonstrating wrist and ankle anatomy to students, fine detailing of tendons and vessels, manuscript-like margins."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: māṃsasnāyuśirāsthinyaḥ = māṃsa-snāyu-śirā-asthin-yaḥ (द्वन्द्वसमास); catvāraś = catvāraḥ (visarga sandhi); maṇibandhanagulpheṣu = maṇibandhana-gulpheṣu.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 369 (śarīra-racanā and marma enumerations around joints)

Characters & Entities

• Ayurveda
• Śarīra (anatomy)
• Sandhi (joints)
• Maṇibandhana (wrist)
• Gulpha (ankle)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It conveys anatomical knowledge (Ayurveda/Śārīra): at the wrist and ankle joints, muscle, tendons/ligaments, vessels, and bone are structurally interbound—useful for diagnosis, therapy, and injury management.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond myth and ritual, the text preserves technical Ayurveda—precise joint anatomy and tissue categories—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium spanning medicine, governance, arts, and other sciences.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

While primarily medical, such śāstric body-knowledge supports dharma by protecting life and enabling disciplined practice; caring for the body as an instrument of duty is treated as merit-bearing (puṇya) in Purāṇic ethics.