Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 24
Chapter 280 — रसादिलक्षणम् / सर्वरोगहराण्यौषधानि
Characteristics of Taste and Related Factors; Medicines that Remove All Diseases
यो वेत्ति स ह्य् अजेयः स्थात्सम्बन्धे वाहुशौण्डिकः आहारशुद्धिरग्न्यर्थमग्निमूलं बलं नृणां
yo vetti sa hy ajeyaḥ sthātsambandhe vāhuśauṇḍikaḥ āhāraśuddhiragnyarthamagnimūlaṃ balaṃ nṛṇāṃ
जो इसे जानता है वह निश्चय ही अजेय हो जाता है; व्यवहार में वह बलवान् भुजाओं वाला वीर बनता है। आहार की शुद्धि अग्नि (जठराग्नि) की रक्षा के लिए है, क्योंकि मनुष्यों का बल अग्नि को ही मूल मानता है।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Maintain digestive fire (jatharagni) through dietary purity to build strength, resilience, and functional capacity in daily life.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Ahara-shuddhi as the root of Bala through Agni","lookup_keywords":["ahara-shuddhi","jatharagni","bala","digestive fire","diet discipline"],"quick_summary":"Strength (bala) is rooted in digestive fire (agni); therefore dietetic purity is the practical means to preserve agni and become robust and hard to defeat in worldly engagements."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Agni as the causal root of bala; purity of inputs (ahara) preserves the system’s power.
Application: Use diet as the primary lever for health, stamina, and effectiveness in action.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Ahara-vidhi (Dietetic discipline and strength; Agni as digestive fire)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciplined person taking pure, measured food while a symbolic inner flame (jatharagni) glows, implying strength and invincibility.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, calm household scene with a seated figure eating sattvic food on a banana leaf, stylized inner flame at the navel, warm earthy palette, temple-mural linework","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central figure with halo-like aura of agni at the abdomen, ornate borders, gold leaf highlights on vessels and flame, devotional yet didactic composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional panel showing pathya foods and a steady agni flame icon, fine lines, muted colors, labeled vessels and measured portions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly domestic interior, a strong-armed champion depicted with restrained meal, subtle flame motif near the waist, detailed textiles and utensils"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्य् → हि; स्थात्सम्बन्धे → स्थात् सम्बन्धे; अग्न्यर्थमग्निमूलं → अग्नि-अर्थम् अग्निमूलम् (अव्ययीभाव + तत्पुरुष).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 279-281 (Ahara-vidhi, dinacharya/ritucharya, dravya-yoga context)
FAQs
It teaches the Ayurvedic principle that āhāra-śuddhi (purity and rightness of diet) sustains Agni (digestive fire), and that human bala (strength/vitality) depends fundamentally on the condition of this Agni.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purāṇa includes practical health science: here it summarizes a core Ayurvedic dietetics doctrine—strength arises from digestion/metabolism—showing its wide, encyclopedic coverage.
Maintaining purity of food is presented as a purificatory discipline that supports inner fire and vitality; such self-regulation is linked with steadiness, competence in worldly engagements, and the merit of living in a sāttvika, disciplined manner.