Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 6
Mantra-paribhāṣā (मन्त्रपरिभाषा) — Colophon/Closure
गोनसा मन्दगा दीर्घा मण्डलैर् विधैश्चिताः रथाङ्गलाङ्गलत्रमुष्टिकाङ्कुशधारिण इति ख स्थिता इति ख राजिलाश्चित्रिताः स्निग्धास्तिर्यगूर्ध्वञ्च वाजिभिः
gonasā mandagā dīrghā maṇḍalair vidhaiścitāḥ rathāṅgalāṅgalatramuṣṭikāṅkuśadhāriṇa iti kha sthitā iti kha rājilāścitritāḥ snigdhāstiryagūrdhvañca vājibhiḥ
गोनस सर्प मंदगामी और दीर्घकाय होते हैं, जिन पर मंडलाकार धब्बे और विविध आकृतियाँ होती हैं—जैसे रथचक्र, हल, त्र-मुष्टिका (गदा/मुष्टि-चिह्न) और अंकुश। वे रेखाओं से चित्रित, चिकने, तथा घोड़ों पर दिखने वाली आड़ी-तिरछी और लंबवत धारियों के समान पट्टियों से युक्त होते हैं।
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Field-identification of gonasa-type serpents by gait, body length, patch/stripe patterns and emblem-like markings—supporting sarpa-viṣa risk assessment and toxicology triage.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Gonasa Sarpa-lakṣaṇa (Morphological Identification Marks)","lookup_keywords":["gonasa","sarpa-lakṣaṇa","maṇḍala","rathāṅga","aṅkuśa"],"quick_summary":"Describes gonasa serpents as slow and long, with circular patches and distinct patterned marks (wheel, plough, tramuṣṭikā/club-fist, goad), glossy bodies, and crosswise/lengthwise striping like horse-markings. Useful for recognition-based toxicology lore."}
Alamkara Type: Upama
Concept: Lakṣaṇa-jñāna (knowledge by observable marks) as a pragmatic epistemology for managing risk in the natural world.
Application: Train attention to observable features (gait, markings, sheen, stripe orientation) to support timely, informed response to hazards.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Sarpa-viṣa / Toxicology and zoological-identification lore)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A close observational depiction of a long, slow-moving gonasa serpent with circular patches and emblem-like marks (wheel, plough, club/fist, goad), glossy scales, and both transverse and longitudinal striping reminiscent of horse patterns.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, single prominent serpent in profile, exaggerated circular patches and symbolic marks (wheel, plough, goad), glossy highlights, patterned stripes crossing and running lengthwise, earthy background with ritual stylization.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, iconic serpent on a decorative ground, gold embossing to highlight circular patches and emblem marks, rich lacquer-like sheen, ornate border, emphasis on glossy texture.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, scientific-illustration clarity, annotated markings (maṇḍala, rathāṅga, lāṅgala, tramuṣṭikā, aṅkuśa), careful rendering of stripe directions, neutral background for instruction.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature natural history folio, finely detailed serpent scales with sheen, precise circular patches and emblem-like marks, subtle landscape, marginal notes, refined palette and linework."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: maṇḍalair = maṇḍalaiḥ; vidhaiścitāḥ = vidhaiḥ + citāḥ; dhāriṇa iti = dhāriṇaḥ + iti; rājilāścitritāḥ = rājilāḥ + citritāḥ; snigdhāstiryagūrdhvañca = snigdhāḥ + tiryak + ūrdhvam + ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sarpa-viṣa/viṣa-cikitsā passages; other sarpa-bheda descriptions in the same khanda
FAQs
Practical toxicology/diagnostics: it teaches how to identify the gonasa type of serpent by movement (slow), body form (long), and diagnostic skin-mark patterns (rings, wheel/plough/goad-like motifs, glossy striped lines).
It treats a medical-zoological subject—classification by observable signs—supporting later therapeutic decisions in snakebite management, showing the Purana’s breadth beyond theology into applied Ayurveda and field diagnostics.
By enabling correct recognition of dangerous creatures and appropriate response, it supports dharma through protection of life (prāṇa-rakṣaṇa), a meritorious aim repeatedly upheld in Purāṇic ethics.