Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 36
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
पञ्चपेशीशतान्येव चत्वारिंशत्तथोर्ध्वगाः चतुःशतन्तु शाखासु अन्तराधौ च षष्टिका
pañcapeśīśatānyeva catvāriṃśattathordhvagāḥ catuḥśatantu śākhāsu antarādhau ca ṣaṣṭikā
筋肉（peśī）はまことに五百あり、さらに上部に四十が加わる。そのうち四百は四肢（śākhā）に、六十は中部・胴（antarādhi）にある。
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Muscle (peśī) enumeration by body regions for śārīra instruction; supports understanding of movement, injury, and surgical approaches.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Peśī-saṅkhyā and regional distribution (ūrdhva/śākhā/antara)","lookup_keywords":["peśī","māṃsa","śākhā","ūrdhva","śārīra"],"quick_summary":"States total muscle counts and their distribution across upper region, limbs, and trunk—used as a memorized anatomical framework."}
Concept: Functional anatomy through enumeration—orderliness of the embodied system.
Application: Training memory and clinical localization for vaidya/surgeon.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Anatomy / Śārīra—Nervous and Muscular Channels)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An anatomical teaching scene showing muscle groups highlighted: upper region, limbs, and trunk, with counts annotated beside each region.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized human figure with red-toned muscle areas; upper region emphasized; guru pointing with a staff; numbers written on decorative cartouches; flat ornamental background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-embossed outlines of muscle regions; teacher and disciple; rich jewel tones; count labels in Devanagari; symmetrical composition with ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear educational plate—muscle regions shaded, labels for ūrdhva/śākhā/antara; fine linework; subdued palette; classroom ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: physician demonstrates regional musculature on an illustrated scroll; assistants note counts; delicate shading and precise labeling; interior with patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pañcapeśīśatānyeva = pañca-peśī-śatāni + eva; catvāriṃśattathā = catvāriṃśat + tathā; tathordhvagāḥ = tathā + ūrdhvagāḥ; catuḥśatantu = catuḥśatam + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369.34 (snāyu counts); Agni Purana 369.33 (asthi/sandhi counts)
FAQs
This verse imparts Ayurvedic śārīra-vidyā: a technical enumeration of peśī (muscles), distributing them by bodily regions—upper part, limbs (śākhā), and trunk (antarādhi).
By preserving medical-anatomical taxonomy (counts and regional classification of muscles), the Agni Purana functions as a compendium that includes Ayurveda alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences.
Accurate knowledge of the body is treated as a form of śāstra-jñāna; it supports right practice (yoga, healing, and disciplined living), which is traditionally regarded as conducive to purity, restraint, and dharmic merit.