Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 1
Chapter 280 — रसादिलक्षणम् / सर्वरोगहराण्यौषधानि
Characteristics of Taste and Related Factors; Medicines that Remove All Diseases
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे सर्वरोगहराण्यौषधानि नामोनाशीत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः तथोल्कानामुष्मणामध्वसेविनामिति ख अथाशीत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः रसादिलक्षणं धन्वन्तरिर् उवाच रसादिलक्षणं वक्ष्ये भेषजानां गुणं शृणु रसवीर्यविपाकज्ञो नृपादीन्रक्षयेन्नरः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe sarvarogaharāṇyauṣadhāni nāmonāśītyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ tatholkānāmuṣmaṇāmadhvasevināmiti kha athāśītyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ rasādilakṣaṇaṃ dhanvantarir uvāca rasādilakṣaṇaṃ vakṣye bheṣajānāṃ guṇaṃ śṛṇu rasavīryavipākajño nṛpādīnrakṣayennaraḥ
अशा प्रकारे आग्नेय महापुराणातील ‘सर्वरोगहर औषधे’ नावाचा दोनशे ऐंशीवा अध्याय (समाप्त) झाला. (अन्य पाठात—‘उल्का, उष्मा व मार्गसेवी’ असा उल्लेख.) आता दोनशे ऐंशीवा ‘रसादिलक्षण’ अध्याय आरंभ होतो. धन्वंतरी म्हणाले—मी रसादि-लक्षण व औषधांचे गुण सांगतो, ऐका. रस, वीर्य व विपाक जाणणारा पुरुष राजा इत्यादींचे रक्षण करू शकतो.
Dhanvantari (Ayurvedic authority) speaking within the Agni Purana’s didactic frame
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Establishes the dravya-guṇa analytical framework (rasa–vīrya–vipāka) for selecting medicines; positions the vaidya’s expertise as state-protective (public health/royal care).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Rasa–Vīrya–Vipāka-jñāna as the basis of Bhaiṣajya-guṇa and royal protection","lookup_keywords":["Dhanvantari","rasa vīrya vipāka","bhaiṣajya guṇa","sarva-roga-hara auṣadha","vaidya protects king"],"quick_summary":"Dhanvantari introduces the diagnostic-pharmacological triad—taste, potency, and post-digestive effect—as the key to understanding medicine qualities. Mastery of this triad enables effective protection of rulers and society through correct therapeutics."}
Concept: Śāstra-jñāna (rasa–vīrya–vipāka) as pramāṇa for effective action; knowledge as protective power in governance and life.
Application: Train physicians/health stewards to use standardized pharmacological categories for safe, reproducible treatment.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Bhaiṣajya-śāstra / Rasāyana & Dravya-guṇa topics within Agni Purana’s encyclopedic sections)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Dhanvantari addresses a royal assembly or students, introducing the framework of rasa, vīrya, and vipāka; manuscripts, herbs, and medicine vessels are displayed, emphasizing encyclopedic medical instruction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Dhanvantari seated in teaching posture with palm-leaf manuscripts; attendants hold herb bundles and a kalaśa; a king listens respectfully; strong outlines, traditional jewelry, sacred scholastic ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Dhanvantari with gold-embossed aura holding amṛta-kalaśa; below, a small court scene of the king receiving instruction; ornate borders, rich colors, devotional-scientific tone.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, classroom-like scene: Dhanvantari points to a diagram listing rasa-vīrya-vipāka; students take notes; medicine jars and herbs neatly arranged; refined linework and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court physician (Dhanvantari-like divine figure) presenting a pharmacology treatise to the ruler; detailed shelves of jars, herbs, and manuscripts; architectural depth and fine brushwork."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति + (य्-आदेशः); सर्वरोगहराण्यौषधानि = सर्वरोगहराणि + औषधानि; 'अध्यायः = अध्यायः (अवग्रह); तथोल्कानामुष्मणामध्वसेविनामिति = तथा + उल्कानाम् + उष्मणाम् + अध्वसेविनाम् + इति; धन्वन्तरिर् = धन्वन्तरिः + (र्-आदेशः); नृपादीन्रक्षयेत् = नृपादीन् + रक्षयेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 280 (rasa-vīrya-vipāka definitions and classifications); Agni Purana 279 (cikitsā applications of doṣa-śamana)
FAQs
Ayurvedic clinical theory: correct treatment depends on knowing a drug’s rasa (taste), vīrya (potency), and vipāka (post-digestive effect), which together determine therapeutic action.
It signals a shift into systematic medical science—drug properties and diagnostic-therapeutic principles—showing how the Agni Purana compiles practical disciplines like Ayurveda alongside ritual, polity, and poetics.
By framing medicine as protection of society (“kings and others”), the verse presents healing knowledge as dharmic service—preserving life and social order, which is traditionally regarded as meritorious.