Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 31
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
कूर्चिका क्षिरविकृतिः स्निग्धं मसृणचिक्कणं पृथुकः स्याच्चिपिटको धाना भ्रष्टयवास्त्रियः
kūrcikā kṣiravikṛtiḥ snigdhaṃ masṛṇacikkaṇaṃ pṛthukaḥ syāccipiṭako dhānā bhraṣṭayavāstriyaḥ
കൂർചികാ പാൽജന്യമായ ഒരു ക്ഷീരവികൃതിയാണ്; അത് സ്നിഗ്ധം, മസൃണം, ചിക്കണം (മൃദുവും മിനുക്കമുള്ളതും) എന്നു വിവരണം. പൃഥുകം ചപ്പറ്റിയ ധാന്യം; അതുപോലെ ചിപിടകം, ധാനാ, മൂന്നു പ്രാവശ്യം വറുത്ത യവകണങ്ങൾ (ഭ്രഷ്ട-യവ) എന്നിവയും (പേരുകൾ).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Dietetic identification of milk-products and grain-preparations for planning pathya/apathya foods and household nutrition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Kūrcikā and grain-preparations (pṛthuka, cipiṭaka, dhānā, bhraṣṭa-yava)","lookup_keywords":["kūrcikā","kṣīra-vikṛti","pṛthuka","dhānā","bhraṣṭa-yava"],"quick_summary":"Defines kūrcikā as a milk-derivative characterized by snigdha/masṛṇa (unctuous, smooth) qualities, and lists common processed grains like pṛthuka and roasted barley for dietary use."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Ahāra as classified by dravya and guṇa (snigdha/masṛṇa) rather than by taste alone.
Application: Choose foods by processing-form and qualities (guṇa) to match digestion and season.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Ahara-vidhi (Food science and dietetics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A domestic dairy-and-grain preparation scene: milk being processed into kūrcikā; flattened grains (pṛthuka) and roasted barley displayed in bowls with labels.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural palette, stylized kitchen courtyard, women churning and setting milk into kūrcikā, banana-leaf trays with pṛthuka and roasted barley, flat decorative borders, earthy reds and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central still-life of brass vessels with milk preparation kūrcikā, ornate gold-leaf highlights on bowls of pṛthuka and bhraṣṭa-yava, rich maroon background, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional layout with neatly arranged labeled food items—kūrcikā, pṛthuka, cipiṭaka, dhānā, roasted barley—fine linework, soft shading, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed pantry scene with attendants preparing milk-derivative and presenting flattened grains in porcelain dishes, fine textiles, naturalistic grains, delicate borders and calligraphic labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhoopali","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्याच्चिपिटको = स्यात् + चिपिटकः (त् + च → च्च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 365 (Ahāra-vidhi / dravya-nāma-saṅgraha)
FAQs
Ayurvedic ahāra-vidyā: it defines specific food preparations—milk derivatives (kūrcikā) and parched/flattened grains (pṛthuka, cipiṭaka, dhānā, bhraṣṭa-yava)—and notes their key quality as snigdha (unctuous/nourishing).
It functions like a technical glossary of dietetics, cataloging named food items and their guṇa (qualities), showing the Purana’s coverage beyond mythology into practical Ayurveda and everyday nutrition science.
By guiding proper, sāttvika-compatible nourishment through classified foods and qualities, it supports bodily purity and steadiness—considered conducive to dharma, worship, and disciplined living.