Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 14
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
रक्तमांसप्रसाराच्च भवन्त्यन्त्राणि देहिनां सार्धत्रिव्यामसंख्यानि तानि नॄणां विनिर्दिशेत्
raktamāṃsaprasārācca bhavantyantrāṇi dehināṃ sārdhatrivyāmasaṃkhyāni tāni nṝṇāṃ vinirdiśet
രക്തവും മാംസവും വ്യാപിക്കുന്നതിൽ നിന്ന് ദേഹികളിൽ ആന്ത്രങ്ങൾ ഉത്ഭവിക്കുന്നു. മനുഷ്യരിൽ അവയുടെ അളവ് മൂന്നു വ്യാമവും അരവും എന്നു പ്രത്യേകമായി നിർദ്ദേശിക്കണം.
Lord Agni (narrating the encyclopedic teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Anatomical doctrine for describing origin and measurement of intestines; supports śārīra knowledge used in surgery, diagnosis, and understanding internal pathways.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Origin and measure of the intestines (antra)","lookup_keywords":["antra","rakta-māṃsa-prasāra","vyāma","śārīra","pramāṇa"],"quick_summary":"Intestines are said to arise from the extension/spread of blood and flesh. In humans their measure is given as three and a half vyāmas, serving as a traditional anatomical metric."}
Concept: The body is describable through measurable structures (pramāṇa) and material derivations (rakta/māṃsa).
Application: Employ standardized measures (vyāma-based) for communicating anatomical proportions in teaching and practice.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Sharira-rachana / Anatomy)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traditional anatomical illustration of the human torso showing intestines as tubular coils, with a measuring cord indicating ‘3.5 vyāmas’, and a teacher explaining their origin from blood and flesh.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized human figure with semi-transparent abdomen revealing coiled intestines, red (rakta) and flesh-toned (māṃsa) layers, a measuring cord marked ‘3½ vyāma’, guru instructing students.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate frame with gold leaf, central standing human figure with symbolic intestines, measurement ribbon ‘3½ vyāma’, teacher holding palm-leaf text, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional diagram aesthetic, labeled intestines (antra), arrows from rakta and māṃsa to antra, measurement scale in vyāma units, subdued background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician-scholar in a study, detailed anatomical scroll depicting intestines and a measuring line, fine calligraphy noting ‘sārdha-tri-vyāma’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रक्तमांसप्रसाराच्च = रक्त + मांस + प्रसारात् + च; भवन्त्यन्त्राणि = भवन्ति + अन्त्राणि; सार्धत्रिव्यामसंख्यानि = सार्ध + त्रिव्याम + संख्यानि (त्रिव्याम = त्रि + व्याम, तत्पुरुष).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Śārīra passages on dhātu formation and organ derivation; Agni Purana sections listing aṅga-praty-aṅga and pramāṇa
FAQs
It imparts Ayurvedic śarīra-vidyā: a technical anatomical statement describing the origin and standardized measurement of the intestines (antrāṇi) in humans using the unit vyāma.
By shifting from mythic narration to quantifiable body-science (anatomy and measurement), it shows the Agni Purāṇa’s compendium style—preserving medical/anatomical data alongside ritual, dharma, and other disciplines.
While primarily technical, it supports dharmic living by promoting correct knowledge of the body as a field for disciplined conduct and health—enabling proper practice of duties (dharma) through bodily well-being.