Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 29
Bala-graha-hara Bāla-tantram (बालग्रहहर बालतन्त्रम्) — Pediatric protection and graha-affliction management
पिष्टमांससुरामांसैर् बलिः स्याद्यमुनाष्टमे विस्फोटशोषणाद्यं स्यात् तच्चिकित्सान्न कारयेत्
piṣṭamāṃsasurāmāṃsair baliḥ syādyamunāṣṭame visphoṭaśoṣaṇādyaṃ syāt taccikitsānna kārayet
ಯಮುನಾತೀರದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಷ್ಟಮಿಯಂದು ಪಿಷ್ಟಮಾಂಸ, ಸುರಾ ಮತ್ತು ಮಾಂಸಗಳಿಂದ ಬಲಿಯನ್ನು ಅರ್ಪಿಸಬೇಕು. ವಿಸ್ಫೋಟ, ಶೋಷಣ ಮೊದಲಾದ ಪೀಡೆಗಳು ಉಂಟಾದರೆ, ಅದರ ವೈದ್ಯಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ ಮಾಡಿಸದೆ ವಿಧಿಸಲಾದ ಶಾಂತಿಕರ್ಮವನ್ನೇ ಆಚರಿಸಬೇಕು.
Lord Agni (teaching in an encyclopedic, prescriptive style to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Graha/bhūta-pratikāra: when eruptive/wasting conditions are attributed to non-human affliction, perform the specified bali at the prescribed tithi and place rather than ordinary drug-therapy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yamunā-aṣṭamī bali for visphoṭa–śoṣaṇa graha-affliction","lookup_keywords":["Yamunā aṣṭamī","bali surā-māṃsa","visphoṭa","śoṣaṇa","graha-pratikāra"],"quick_summary":"For certain eruptive and wasting presentations framed as graha/bhūta affliction, the text prioritizes propitiatory bali (meat and liquor) at Yamunā on the 8th lunar day and discourages routine chikitsā."}
Concept: Adhikāra-bheda in treatment: some conditions are approached through daiva/śānti rather than yukti-aushadha.
Application: Triage rule within roga-chikitsā: when classified as graha-affliction, prioritize ritual appeasement and protective observances.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Roga-Chikitsa / Bhuta-Bala-Graha Pratikara context)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A riverside (Yamunā) śānti rite on aṣṭamī: practitioner arranging bali with pounded meat and liquor, with protective gestures and offerings near the water.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Yamunā riverbank with stylized waves, priest performing bali on aṣṭamī, offering bowls of piṣṭa, surā and māṃsa, muted earthy palette, ritual lamps, protective yantra motifs, frontal composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on ritual vessels and lamps, Yamunā as a decorative band, priest and attendants presenting bali plates with surā and māṃsa, ornate borders, rich reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework showing step-by-step bali arrangement near river, labeled vessels (piṣṭa, surā, māṃsa), calm instructional tableau, soft shading and delicate ornament.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed river landscape with Yamunā, small figures performing a nocturnal/early-evening offering, fine textiles, realistic vessels, marginal floral motifs, documentary ritual feel."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syāt+yamunāṣṭame → syāt yamunā-aṣṭame; taccikitsānna → tat cikitsā na; piṣṭamāṃsasurāmāṃsair → piṣṭa-māṃsa-surā-māṃsaiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 298 (graha/bāla-roga pratikāra sequence: aṣṭamī–dvādaśī gradations)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific bali (propitiatory offering) using pounded meat and liquor, to be performed on Aṣṭamī at the Yamunā, as a response-framework for certain afflictions like visphoṭa (eruptive disease) and śoṣaṇa (wasting).
It blends therapeutic decision-making with ritual protocol—showing how the Agni Purana preserves not only medical vocabulary (visphoṭa, śoṣaṇa, cikitsā) but also prescribes situational rites (bali, timing, sacred geography) as part of applied knowledge.
The verse frames certain illnesses as requiring propitiation/appeasement through bali rather than ordinary treatment, implying a remedial approach that addresses unseen causes (daiva/adhidaivika factors) alongside bodily symptoms.