Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 17
Chapter 280 — रसादिलक्षणम् / सर्वरोगहराण्यौषधानि
Characteristics of Taste and Related Factors; Medicines that Remove All Diseases
तदेव वृद्धये ज्ञेयं विपरीतं क्षमावहम् उपस्तम्भत्रयं प्रोक्तं देहे ऽस्मिन्मनुजोत्तम
tadeva vṛddhaye jñeyaṃ viparītaṃ kṣamāvaham upastambhatrayaṃ proktaṃ dehe 'sminmanujottama
वही आचार-व्यवस्था वृद्धि (और कल्याण) के लिए जाननी चाहिए; उसका विपरीत क्षयकारक होता है। हे मनुजोत्तम! इस देह में उपस्तम्भों का त्रय कहा गया है।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) addressing the listener (commonly Vasiṣṭha/ṛṣi)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Maintain the body through the upastambha-traya (subsidiary supports); growth comes from proper regimen, decline from its opposite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Upastambha-traya and regimen leading to vṛddhi vs kṣaya","lookup_keywords":["upastambha-traya","vṛddhi","kṣaya","deha-dhāraṇa","vihāra"],"quick_summary":"Well-being and growth arise from correct supportive regimen; its contrary causes deterioration. The body is sustained by a triad of subsidiary supports."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Self-maintenance through supportive disciplines; opposites produce predictable decline.
Application: Adopt preventive health as a disciplined practice: align habits with sustaining supports rather than chasing cures after deterioration.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Deha-dharana / Upastambha-traya: the three supports of the body)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic ‘three-pillars’ depiction supporting a human figure, labeled as the upastambhas; one side shows proper regimen leading to growth, the other shows neglect leading to decline.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized human figure supported by three ornate pillars, contrasting panels of flourishing vs withering body, bold outlines and traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, three golden pillars beneath a seated figure representing the body, rich gold leaf, symmetrical temple-like framing, didactic icon-panel feel.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional composition: triad pillars with captions, arrows to vṛddhi and kṣaya outcomes, fine linework and soft washes.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, allegorical scene: a figure standing on a platform held by three columns, courtly setting, marginal annotations indicating vṛddhi/kṣaya."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदेव → तत् + एव; देहे ऽस्मिन् → देहे + अस्मिन्; अस्मिन्मनुजोत्तम → अस्मिन् + मनुजोत्तम; मनुजोत्तम → मनुज + उत्तम (समास)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 280.18 (explicit naming of the triad: āhāra, nidrā, maithuna)
FAQs
Ayurvedic preventive-health doctrine: correct observance of the body’s three subsidiary supports (upastambha-traya—diet, sleep, and regulated conduct) leads to strengthening, while their violation causes decline.
It shows the text’s compendium-style coverage by inserting core Ayurvedic theory (foundational health maintenance principles) alongside the Purana’s many other domains like ritual, governance, architecture, and poetics.
By endorsing disciplined, sattvic bodily maintenance (right diet, proper sleep, and restrained conduct), the verse supports purity and steadiness of mind—conditions traditionally held to aid dharma and spiritual practice.