Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
दन्तकाष्ठं हृदा जप्तं क्षीरवृक्षादिसम्भवम् संशोध्य दन्तान् संक्षिप्त्वा प्रज्ञाल्यैतत् क्षिपेद्भुवि
dantakāṣṭhaṃ hṛdā japtaṃ kṣīravṛkṣādisambhavam saṃśodhya dantān saṃkṣiptvā prajñālyaitat kṣipedbhuvi
ເມື່ອສະຫຼອງມົນຕຣາໃນໃຈ (japa) ແລ້ວ ພຶງເອົາໄມ້ຂັດແຂ້ວທີ່ເກີດຈາກຕົ້ນໄມ້ມີນ້ຳນົມແລະອື່ນໆ. ຫຼັງຈາກຊຳລະແຂ້ວແລ້ວ ພຶງຮວບຮວມມັນ ລ້າງໃຫ້ສະອາດດີ ແລ້ວຖິ້ມລົງພື້ນດິນ.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Dinacharya and shaucha: selecting an appropriate tooth-stick (from milky trees), mantra-minded use, proper cleaning, rinsing, and hygienic disposal.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dantadhavana with Kṣīra-vṛkṣa Tooth-stick (Dinacharya)","lookup_keywords":["dantakāṣṭha","kṣīra-vṛkṣa","dinacaryā","śauca","danta-śodhana"],"quick_summary":"For daily hygiene, use a tooth-stick from suitable milky trees, cleanse the teeth, rinse the stick, and discard it properly; the act is framed as both bodily cleanliness and ritual purity supported by mental mantra-recitation."}
Concept: Outer cleanliness supports inner discipline; routine acts become sādhana when done with mindful mantra and proper conduct.
Application: Integrate hygiene into daily vrata-like discipline: mindful performance, correct materials, and respectful disposal.
Khanda Section: Dinacharya (Ayurveda) and Shaucha-vidhi (Purificatory daily rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A person at dawn performing dental cleansing with a tooth-stick from a milky tree, then rinsing it and discarding it on the ground as part of daily purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, early morning courtyard, figure holding dantakāṣṭha, water pot nearby, banyan/fig-like milky tree suggested, calm earthy tones, emphasis on purity ritual.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, dawn scene with ornate water vessel, figure performing dantadhavana, stylized milky tree, gold accents on pot and border, devotional domestic setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional: correct length/handling of tooth-stick, rinsing action, disposal on ground, minimal background, fine linework and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, garden setting at sunrise, figure cleaning teeth with twig, attendant with ewer, detailed flora, naturalistic palette and delicate brushwork."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्षीरवृक्षादिसम्भवम् → क्षीर-वृक्ष-आदि-सम्भवम्. प्रज्ञाल्य + एतत् → प्रज्ञाल्यैतत्. क्षिपेत् + भुवि → क्षिपेद्भुवि (t/d sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dinacharya/Shaucha-vidhi passages on snana, ācamana, and bodily purification
FAQs
It prescribes danta-dhavana using a dantakāṣṭha from latex-bearing (kṣīravṛkṣa) trees, accompanied by mental japa, followed by proper disposal—combining Ayurvedic oral hygiene with ritual purity.
Alongside theology and rites, the Agni Purana records practical health-regimens (dinacharya) such as oral care, showing it functions as a compendium of daily-life science, conduct, and ritual procedure.
Mental japa sanctifies the act of cleansing, and careful washing/disposal maintains śauca (purity), supporting disciplined living that is considered conducive to merit and inner clarity.