Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 20
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
कर्करान्तं जलान्तं वा शल्यदोषजिघांसया खानयेद् भूः कुमारीं चेद् विधिना शल्यमुद्धरेत्
karkarāntaṃ jalāntaṃ vā śalyadoṣajighāṃsayā khānayed bhūḥ kumārīṃ ced vidhinā śalyamuddharet
ശല്യദോഷം നീക്കുവാൻ ഭൂമിയെ കല്ലുകഷണങ്ങൾ വരുന്നവരെ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ വെള്ളം ലഭിക്കുന്നവരെ വരെ കുഴിക്കണം; രോഗിണി കുമാരിയാണെങ്കിൽ വിധിപ്രകാരം ശല്യം പുറത്തെടുക്കണം.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic disciplines, here medical/surgical procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Guidance for locating and extracting a lodged foreign body by exploring until gravelly layer or water is reached; emphasizes proper method especially for a young maiden patient.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śalya-uddhāra: excavation/cutting to gravel or water level; special caution for kumārī","lookup_keywords":["śalya","uddhāra","śalya-doṣa","karkara-anta","kumārī"],"quick_summary":"To remove complications from an embedded foreign body, explore the tract until a diagnostic endpoint (gravelly layer or water) is reached, then extract the śalya by proper surgical procedure, with heightened care in a young maiden."}
Concept: Pramāṇa-based intervention: proceed by observable endpoints and proper method to prevent iatrogenic harm.
Application: In invasive procedures, use staged exploration and clear criteria for depth/extent; apply patient-specific caution (age/sex/vulnerability).
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Shalya-tantra / Surgical and wound-management instructions)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A physician-surgeon carefully explores a wound/tract to locate a foreign body, proceeding until a clear sign (gravelly layer or water seepage) appears, then extracts it with proper instruments; a young maiden patient is treated with modesty and care.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, vaidya with simple surgical instruments, attendants holding lamp and water, patient on a low cot, subtle depiction of exploration with minimal gore, emphasis on careful hands and ritual cleanliness.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, physician with ornate but restrained setting, gold highlights on instruments and vessels, patient modestly draped, focus on compassionate clinical act, decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional medical scene: instruments laid out, stepwise exploration indicated, small inset showing ‘gravel’ and ‘water’ endpoints as diagnostic cues, delicate shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed clinic chamber, surgeon seated with instruments, attendants, patient on carpeted platform, naturalistic rendering of tools and posture, discreet depiction of procedure."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शल्यमुद्धरेत् = शल्यम् + उद्धरेत् (म् + उ → मु).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda/Śalya-tantra passages on śalya-lakṣaṇa, śalya-uddhāra, and doṣa from retention; Agni Purana nidāna and nimitta portions connected to śalya prognosis
FAQs
It teaches a Shalya-tantra (Ayurvedic surgical) principle: preventing shalya-doṣa (complications from a retained foreign body) by properly opening/excavating the affected area and extracting the lodged object according to procedure, with special care when the patient is a kumārī (young maiden).
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves applied sciences; this verse exemplifies practical medical knowledge—surgical decision-making and technique—showing the text’s wide scope as a compendium of Puranic-era technical disciplines.
By emphasizing correct, rule-based treatment (vidhi), the verse frames healing as a dharmic duty: relieving suffering and preventing harm (hiṃsā) accrues merit through compassionate, disciplined action aligned with righteous conduct.