Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 21
Chapter 291 — Śāntyāyurveda
Ayurveda for Pacificatory Rites): Go-śānti, Penance-Regimens, and Therapeutics (incl. Veterinary Care
देवब्राह्मणगोसाधुसाध्वीभिः सकलं जगत् धार्यते वै सदा तस्मात् सर्वे पूज्यतमा मताः
devabrāhmaṇagosādhusādhvībhiḥ sakalaṃ jagat dhāryate vai sadā tasmāt sarve pūjyatamā matāḥ
ദേവന്മാർ, ബ്രാഹ്മണർ, പശുക്കൾ, സാദുക്കൾ, സാദ്വികൾ—ഇവരാൽ സമസ്ത ലോകവും എപ്പോഴും ധരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; അതിനാൽ ഇവർ എല്ലാവരും പരമപൂജ്യരായി കരുതപ്പെടുന്നു.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Ethical hierarchy for daily conduct and governance: honor devas (through worship), brāhmaṇas (through service), cows (through protection), sādhus and sādhvīs (through support and respect).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"World-sustainers worthy of worship (Deva–Brāhmaṇa–Go–Sādhu–Sādhvī)","lookup_keywords":["deva","brahmana","go","sadhu","sadhvi"],"quick_summary":"Identifies five sustaining pillars of the world and concludes they are most worthy of pūjā; it functions as a compact ethical directive for society."}
Alamkara Type: Enumeration (saṅkhyāna) with causal conclusion (hetu)
Concept: Lokasaṅgraha: the world is sustained by spiritual, ethical, and life-supporting exemplars; worship here implies active support and protection.
Application: Translate pūjā into conduct: charity, protection, hospitality, and restraint; create institutions that safeguard cows and support genuine renunciants and virtuous women.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Sadachara (Dharma-shastra / Social Ethics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A composite scene showing the five supports: a deity in shrine, a brāhmaṇa teacher, a cow with calf, a sādhu, and a sādhvī—each receiving respectful offerings, symbolizing world-sustenance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, five-figure sacred tableau: deity niche, brāhmaṇa, cow-calf, sādhu, sādhvī; offerings and lamps; stylized faces, earthy reds and yellows, harmonious composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate devotional assembly with gold leaf: deity panel above, below brāhmaṇa, cow, sādhu, sādhvī receiving honors; rich jewelry-like detailing and auspicious borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic grouping of five revered categories, gentle palette, fine outlines, ritual objects (lamp, water-pot, flowers) indicating pūjā and support","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly patronage scene: ruler and household offering respect to scholar, cow, ascetics; architectural pavilion, delicate flora, narrative realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवब्राह्मणगोसाधुसाध्वीभिः = देव + ब्राह्मण + गो + साधु + साध्वी + भिः (द्वन्द्व-समास); जगत् धार्यते (no sandhi change); तस्मात् सर्वे (no sandhi change).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sadācāra and rājadharma sections; Agni Purana: dāna-dharma and pūjā-vidhi sections
FAQs
It teaches a practical dharma-rule of pūjya-nirṇaya (determining who deserves reverence): devas, Brahmins, cows, and the virtuous (sādhus/sādhvīs) are to be honored because they sustain social and spiritual order.
Beyond rituals and theology, the Agni Purāṇa codifies social ethics and normative conduct (sadācāra/rajadharma), identifying key supports of the world and prescribing reverence—showing its broad, law-and-culture scope.
Honoring these pillars of dharma is presented as alignment with world-sustaining order, generating puṇya (merit) and reducing adharma by supporting Vedic learning, sanctity, and communal welfare.