Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 4
अध्याय २७८: सिद्धौषधानि
Siddha Medicines / Perfected Remedies
मुस्तपर्पटकोशीरचन्दनोदीच्यनागरैः षडहे च व्यतिक्रान्ते तित्तकं पाययेद्ध्रुवं
mustaparpaṭakośīracandanodīcyanāgaraiḥ ṣaḍahe ca vyatikrānte tittakaṃ pāyayeddhruvaṃ
mustā・parpaṭa・uśīra・candana・udīcya・nāgara を用い、六日が過ぎたなら、必ず苦味煎剤 tiktaka を服用させるべきである。
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic teachings)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Herbal decoction protocol for fever/heat conditions after a defined disease-day threshold (after six days): administer a bitter formulation using mustā, parpaṭa, uśīra, candana, udīcya, and nāgara.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Tiktaka-kvātha after ṣaḍ-aha: mustā–parpaṭa–uśīra–candana–udīcya–nāgara","lookup_keywords":["tiktaka","mustā","parpaṭa","uśīra","candana","udīcya","nāgara"],"quick_summary":"After six days, give a bitter decoction prepared from mustā, parpaṭa, uśīra, candana, udīcya, and dry ginger—classically cooling-clearing with digestive support."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Kāla-krama in treatment: timing (after ṣaḍ-aha) and guṇa-based selection (tiktā, śīta with dīpana support).
Application: Match stage of illness with appropriate rasa/guṇa medicines; avoid premature strong bitters in early acute weakness unless indicated.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies / Bhaishajya-vidya)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vaidya prepares a bitter decoction: herbs (mustā, parpaṭa, uśīra, candana, udīcya, nāgara) laid out on a cloth; a pot simmers over a small fire; the patient receives the tiktaka drink after six days of illness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, herbal preparation tableau with clearly stylized plants and roots, simmering decoction pot, physician measuring, patient seated calmly, earthy palette and temple-mural ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate medicine-preparation scene with gold-highlighted vessels, herbs arranged symmetrically, physician offering a cup of tiktaka, rich reds/greens and gold leaf detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical depiction: labeled herbs and decoction pot, physician demonstrating kvātha preparation steps, clean lines and soft shading suited for instructional content.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, apothecary-like setting with detailed botanicals, copper pot on brazier, physician grinding and boiling herbs, patient attended, intricate border and naturalistic rendering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mustaparpaṭakośīracandanodīcyanāgaraiḥ is an itaretara-dvandva compound in instrumental plural; ṣaḍahe = ṣaṭ + ahe (dvigu); pāyayeddhruvaṃ → pāyayet + dhruvam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 278 jvara/bhaiṣajya sequence (preceding dietetic measures and subsequent formulations)
FAQs
Ayurvedic therapeutic guidance: prepare a bitter decoction (tiktaka/tittaka) using mustā, parpaṭa, uśīra, candana, udīcya, and dry ginger, and administer it after a six-day interval as part of treatment.
It preserves practical clinical-style instructions—specific herbs, a dosage form (bitter decoction), and timing (after six days)—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied Ayurveda alongside ritual, theology, and other sciences.
While primarily medical, such puranic health-instructions are framed as dharmic care of the body (a support for sādhana and duty); restoring balance and reducing suffering is treated as a meritorious, purifying act when done rightly.