Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 33
अध्यायः २८६ — गजचिकित्सा
Elephant Medicine
शय्यास्थानं भवेच्चास्य करीषैः पांशुभिस् तथा शरन्निदाघयोः सेकः सर्पिषा च तथेष्यते
śayyāsthānaṃ bhaveccāsya karīṣaiḥ pāṃśubhis tathā śarannidāghayoḥ sekaḥ sarpiṣā ca tatheṣyate
Tempat beristirahat gajah harus disiapkan dengan kotoran kering dan debu halus. Pada musim gugur dan musim panas, percikan minyak samin juga dianjurkan.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Veterinary stable-management: preparing hygienic bedding and seasonal skin-care (uncting/sprinkling) for working animals, especially elephants/horses, to prevent heat-stress and skin cracking.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Animal bedding (kariṣa-pāṃśu) and seasonal ghee-unction","lookup_keywords":["pashu-chikitsa","kariṣa","pāṃśu","śarad-nidāgha","sarpiḥ-seka"],"quick_summary":"Prepare the animal’s resting place with dried dung and fine earth for dryness and cleanliness; in autumn and summer, apply/sprinkle ghee to protect the body from seasonal dryness/heat."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Preventive care through proper habitat (śayyā-sthāna) and seasonal regimen (ṛtu-caryā) for animals.
Application: Institutional animal-care in royal stables/elephant-houses: reduce disease burden and improve endurance by environment + seasonal unction.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Veterinary care / Treatment regimen for animals)
Primary Rasa: Samanya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal stable scene: attendants spread dried dung cakes and fine earth as bedding; another attendant gently sprinkles or rubs ghee on the animal during hot season.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy palette, royal elephant/horse in a stable courtyard, attendants laying kariṣa and pāṃśu bedding, one applying ghee with a small vessel, flat decorative foliage borders, traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central majestic elephant or horse with ornate harness, attendants preparing bedding with dung cakes and dust, ghee vessel highlighted with gold leaf accents, rich reds and greens, embossed jewelry details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, instructional stable layout showing bedding layers (kariṣa then fine earth), attendant demonstrating ghee sprinkling in summer/autumn, labeled implements feel.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed stable interior with textured ground of fine earth, dung cakes stacked, groom applying ghee with a small bowl, delicate architectural arches, naturalistic animal anatomy, fine brush detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhavet+ca+asya → bhaveccāsya; śarat+nidāghayoḥ (dvandva) kept as compound; tatheṣyate = tathā + iṣyate (vowel sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 286 (Gaja-cikitsā context); Agni Purana 287 (Aśva-cikitsā regimen parallels)
FAQs
It gives a practical Ayurvedic/veterinary regimen: prepare the animal’s resting area with dried dung and fine earth, and apply/sprinkle ghee as a seasonal therapeutic measure in autumn and summer.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied health knowledge—environmental hygiene, bedding materials, and season-based treatment—showing the Purana’s coverage of medicine and daily-life technical instructions.
Caring properly for living beings through cleanliness and appropriate regimen is aligned with dharma; it supports non-harm (ahiṃsā) and responsible stewardship, understood as meritorious conduct.