Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 20
Chapter 280 — रसादिलक्षणम् / सर्वरोगहराण्यौषधानि
Characteristics of Taste and Related Factors; Medicines that Remove All Diseases
स्नेहपाके च तद्गुणमिति ख तत्तुल्यताप्यस्य तथा यथा भवति सुश्रुत इति ख उपक्रमद्वयं प्रोक्तं तर्पणं वाप्यतर्पणं हिताशी च मिताशी च जीर्णाशी च तथा भवेत्
snehapāke ca tadguṇamiti kha tattulyatāpyasya tathā yathā bhavati suśruta iti kha upakramadvayaṃ proktaṃ tarpaṇaṃ vāpyatarpaṇaṃ hitāśī ca mitāśī ca jīrṇāśī ca tathā bhavet
സ്നേഹപാകത്തിൽ (ഘൃത‑തൈലാദികളുടെ സംസ്കാരത്തിൽ) അതിന്റെ ലക്ഷണ‑ഗുണങ്ങൾ തിരിച്ചറിയണം; അതിനോട് തുല്യമായ തോതിൽ തന്നെ താപം നൽകണം—സുശ്രുതൻ പറഞ്ഞതുപോലെ. രണ്ട് ഉപക്രമങ്ങൾ പറയുന്നു: തർപ്പണം (പോഷണം)യും അതർപ്പണം (ലഘൂകരണം/ക്ഷയകരണം)യും. ഹിതാഹാരം കഴിക്കണം, മിതമായി കഴിക്കണം, മുൻഭക്ഷണം ജീർണ്ണമായ ശേഷം മാത്രമേ ഭക്ഷിക്കൂ.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Prepare medicated fats correctly (snehapāka), choose tarpaṇa vs atarpaṇa therapy, and follow disciplined eating rules (wholesome, measured, after digestion).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Snehapāka-guṇa, Tarpaṇa–Atarpaṇa upakrama, and Ahāra-niyama","lookup_keywords":["snehapāka","tarpaṇa","atarpaṇa","hitāśī","jīrṇāśī"],"quick_summary":"Correctly processed fats are judged by their proper qualities; therapy is either nourishing or depleting, supported by wholesome, measured eating only after prior digestion."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Niyama (regulated conduct) as a pillar of health: right processing + right measure + right timing.
Application: Adopt food discipline (quality, quantity, timing) as daily practice; treat sneha as a carefully prepared medicine, not merely a food.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Chikitsa/Ahāra-Vihāra & Snehapāka—oleation and dietary regimen)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pharmacy-kitchen scene: medicated ghee/oil being cooked to proper stage, alongside a teaching panel showing two upakramas (nourishing vs depleting) and three eating rules (wholesome, measured, after digestion).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, vaidya supervising snehapāka in bronze vessel over fire, assistants stirring, icon-like side panels labeled tarpaṇa/atarpaṇa, and a small dining scene showing measured portions, warm earthy palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate kitchen-altar setting with gold-leaf on vessels, ghee pot and ladle prominent, two symbolic plates (rich vs light) for tarpaṇa/atarpaṇa, decorative borders, saturated colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition: stepwise depiction of heating sneha to correct stage, small vignettes for hitāśī/mitāśī/jīrṇāśī, fine lines and soft washes.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, apothecary room with copper cauldrons, physician referencing a Suśruta manuscript, diners shown waiting for digestion before eating, intricate textiles and utensils."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तद्गुणम् = तत् + गुणम्. तत्तुल्यताप्यस्य = तत् + तुल्यताप्यस्य (तत् + त्- आरम्भ). वाप्यतर्पणं = वा + अपि + अतर्पणम् (पदच्छेद).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 280.19 (therapy by body-type); Agni Purana 280.21-23 (drug preparations)
FAQs
Ayurvedic technical guidance: correct processing of fats (snehapāka), the paired therapeutic strategies of nourishment (tarpaṇa) and depletion/lightening (atarpaṇa), and practical dietary conduct—wholesome food, measured portions, and eating only after digestion.
It shows the Agni Purana incorporating classical medical authority (Suśruta) and summarizing core Ayurvedic treatment logic (two upakramas) alongside everyday health disciplines (pathya rules), demonstrating the text’s wide scope beyond mythology into applied medicine.
By promoting restraint, wholesomeness, and disciplined timing of meals, the verse frames bodily regulation as a form of dharmic self-governance—supporting purity, steadiness of mind, and reduced harm caused by excess or improper living.