Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 4

Chapter 296 — Viṣa-cikitsā: Mantras and Antidotes for Poison, Stings, and Snake-bite

Devanagari script

विषशान्त्यै देहाद्दंशं ज्वालकोकनदादिना शिरीषवीजपुष्पार्कक्षीरवीजकटुत्रयं

Transliteration

viṣaśāntyai dehāddaṃśaṃ jvālakokanadādinā śirīṣavījapuṣpārkakṣīravījakaṭutrayaṃ

Translation

विष-शांति के लिए शरीर से दंश-चिह्न को तप्त शस्त्र (जैसे ज्वालक/कौटरी-चाकू आदि) से काटकर निकालें; फिर शिरीष के बीज व पुष्प, अर्क का दूध (लैटेक्स), अर्क के बीज तथा कटुत्रय (तीन तीखे द्रव्य) का लेप लगाएँ।

Word by Word

• विष-शान्त्यै: for pacifying poison
• विष-शान्त्यै: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक) + शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विषस्य शान्तिः)

• देहात्: from the body
• देहात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• दंशम्: the bite/wound
• दंशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ज्वाल-कोकनद-आदिना: with jvālā, kokanada, etc.
• ज्वाल-कोकनद-आदिना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वाल (प्रातिपदिक) + कोकनद (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (ज्वालं कोकनदं च आदयः)

• शिरीष-बीज-पुष्प-अर्क-क्षीर-बीज-कटु-त्रयम्: the pungent triad with śirīṣa-seed/flower, arka-milk, etc.
• शिरीष-बीज-पुष्प-अर्क-क्षीर-बीज-कटु-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—ingredients)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरीष (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक) + कटु (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समाहारार्थ-बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (औषधसमूहः—त्रयम्)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in dialogue, traditionally narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Agada-tantra first-aid: excision/cauterization of bite site and topical antidotal paste using specified drugs.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Viṣa-śānti: Daṃśa-chedana/daḥana and Śirīṣa–Arka Agada","lookup_keywords":["viṣa-śānti","daṃśa-chedana","jvālaka","śirīṣa","arka-kṣīra"],"quick_summary":"For envenomation, remove/neutralize venom locally by excising/cauterizing the bite-mark, then apply an antidotal formulation centered on śirīṣa and arka with pungent spices."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yukti-based viṣa-cikitsā: local elimination plus drug-antidote application.

Application: Structured emergency protocol: procedural intervention (cautery/excision) followed by agada-lepa.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies / toxicology and treatments)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A physician cauterizes/excises a bite-mark with a heated instrument, then prepares and applies a herbal paste of śirīṣa and arka with pungent spices.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, vaidya with bronze cautery tool glowing red, assistants holding the patient, bowls of śirīṣa flowers/seeds and arka latex, stylized medicinal plants in border motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central vaidya figure with gold-highlighted instruments, ornate medicine vessels, patient’s limb shown with small bite-mark, gold accents on bowls and halo-like backdrop","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step instructional scene: heating instrument, cauterizing bite, mixing paste, applying lepa; clean composition and fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed clinic scene with copper brazier, physician using cautery, attendants grinding herbs, labeled jars for śirīṣa and arka, naturalistic textiles and architecture"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"clinical","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: देहाद्दंशम् → देहात् दंशम्; कोकनदादिना → कोकनद-आदिना; दीर्घ-समासः औषधद्रव्यसमूहवाचकः.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 296.5-296.7 (alternate modes: pāna/lepa/añjana/nasya)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Ayurveda
• Viṣa (poison)
• Śirīṣa (Albizia lebbeck)
• Arka (Calotropis procera)
• Kaṭu-traya (Trikatu)

FAQs

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

It teaches an Ayurvedic toxicology procedure: remove/neutralize the poisoned bite-site (including cauterization/excision) and apply a compound using śirīṣa, arka (latex/seeds), and kaṭu-traya (Trikatu) to reduce the effect of poison.

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

Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical medical instructions—here, a concise protocol for treating poisonous bites—showing its broad coverage of applied sciences such as Ayurveda and viṣa-cikitsā (toxicology).

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

By presenting life-preserving remedies as dharmic knowledge, the text frames healing and protection from poison as righteous action—supporting the duty to safeguard life and reduce harm (hiṃsā) through informed practice.