Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 20

Derivation

Uddhāra) of the Sakalādi Mantra (सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः

Devanagari script

औषधं विश्वरूपन्तु रुद्राख्यं सूर्यमण्डलम् चन्द्रार्धं नादसंयोगं विसंज्ञं कुटिलन्ततः

Transliteration

auṣadhaṃ viśvarūpantu rudrākhyaṃ sūryamaṇḍalam candrārdhaṃ nādasaṃyogaṃ visaṃjñaṃ kuṭilantataḥ

Translation

auṣadha ຫຼືສານຢາ ເປັນ viśvarūpa ຮູບສາກົນ; ມັນຖືກເອີ້ນວ່າ «Rudra» ແລະຖືກປຽບກັບວົງພຣະອາທິດ. ມັນມີພຣະຈັນຄຶ່ງ ປະສານກັບ nāda ສຽງພາຍໃນ ກາຍເປັນເຫນືອການຮັບຮູ້ທົ່ວໄປ ແລ້ວຈຶ່ງເປັນຮູບ kuṭila ທີ່ພັນຄົດດັ່ງງູ.

Word by Word

• औषधम्: herb / medicinal plant
• औषधम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• विश्वरूपम्: of universal form
• विश्वरूपम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); कर्मधारयः

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषबोधक अव्यय (particle)

• रुद्राख्यम्: called Rudra
• रुद्राख्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र-आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); तत्पुरुषः—रुद्र इति आख्या यस्य (named ‘Rudra’)

• सूर्यमण्डलम्: the solar orb
• सूर्यमण्डलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य-मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); तत्पुरुषः—सूर्यस्य मण्डलम् (solar disc)

• चन्द्रार्धम्: half-moon
• चन्द्रार्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र-अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); तत्पुरुषः—चन्द्रस्य अर्धम् (half of the moon)

• नादसंयोगम्: the conjunction with nāda (sound)
• नादसंयोगम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद-संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); तत्पुरुषः—नादस्य संयोगः (junction/combination with nāda)

• विसंज्ञम्: having altered/absent designation
• विसंज्ञम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); तत्पुरुषः—संज्ञा रहितम्/विशिष्टसंज्ञम् (having a distinct/altered designation; lit. ‘without/other than designation’)

• कुटिलम्: crooked
• कुटिलम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• ततः: then / thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक अव्यय (then/from that)

Speaker

Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Interpret/prepare a rasāyana-like medicinal substance through mantra-yantra correspondences: mapping drug identity to Rudra/Sūryamaṇḍala symbolism and specifying marks (ardhacandra, nāda) and kuṭila (coiled) transformation used in esoteric pharmaceutics or meditative visualization.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Auṣadha as viśvarūpa ‘Rudra’ with sūryamaṇḍala, ardhacandra–nāda, and kuṭila transformation","lookup_keywords":["auṣadha","viśvarūpa","rudra","sūryamaṇḍala","nāda-kuṭila"],"quick_summary":"Describes a medicinal entity in symbolic-tantric terms—universal form, named Rudra, solar-orb likeness, bearing half-moon and nāda union, entering a ‘beyond cognition’ state, then becoming coiled—suggesting an esoteric rasāyana/mantra-pharmaceutic mapping."}

Kavya & Alamkara Layer

Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (metaphoric identification of auṣadha with Rudra/sūryamaṇḍala)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: medicine is empowered/understood through cosmic symbols (sun, moon, nāda) and Śaiva identity (Rudra), culminating in kuṭila/kuṇḍalinī-like potency.

Application: For practitioners combining Ayurveda with mantra: maintain disciplined processing and visualization/recitation protocols, treating the substance as ‘activated’ through correct symbolic alignment.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Rasayana / Medicinal-Tantric correspondences)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A luminous medicinal substance or elixir vessel depicted as a radiant solar disc with a half-moon crest, subtle nāda-wave lines, then transforming into a coiled serpentine spiral—Rudra symbolism hovering behind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, glowing sūryamaṇḍala behind a ritual vessel of auṣadha, white half-moon above, fine nāda wave motifs, the substance turning into a serpent coil, Rudra presence suggested by trident silhouette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold sun-disc halo, half-moon in silver-gold, ornate kalasha holding elixir, coiled serpent motif at base, Rudra name inscribed, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, stepwise instructional panel: (1) viśvarūpa auṣadha, (2) sūryamaṇḍala association, (3) ardhacandra + nāda overlay, (4) kuṭila coil form; clean labels in Sanskrit.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician-alchemist in a workshop, a glowing orb-like medicine on a tray, half-moon and sound-wave motifs drawn on paper, the substance illustrated as a delicate spiral serpent, refined detailing."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: विश्वरूपम् + तु → विश्वरूपन्तु (म्+त्); चन्द्र + अर्धम् → चन्द्रार्धम् (स्वर-सन्धि)

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana rasāyana/auṣadhi passages (Ayurveda sections); Agni Purana 316 (ardhacandra, nāda, kuṭila motifs across mantra/yantra entries)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Surya (solar orb)
• Chandra (crescent/half-moon)
• Nada (mystic sound)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It encodes a medicinal substance (auṣadha) through deity-and-cosmic markers—Rudra, the solar disc, the crescent moon, and nāda—indicating an esoteric/ritualized mode of identifying or empowering a remedy (a medicine described with tantric-physiological symbolism).

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

It blends Ayurveda (medicine) with mantra/tantra-style correspondences (Rudra–Surya–Chandra–Nāda), showing how the Agni Purana compiles practical healing knowledge alongside ritual and metaphysical interpretive frameworks.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By presenting medicine as aligned with Rudra and cosmic principles (sun, moon, nāda), the verse implies that healing is not merely pharmacological but also purificatory—restoring balance through sacred correspondences and thereby supporting inner purification and auspicious outcomes.