Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 24
अध्यायः २८६ — गजचिकित्सा
Elephant Medicine
प्रधानभोजने तेषां यष्टिकव्रीहिशालयः मध्यमौ यवगोधूमौ शेषा दन्तिनि चाधमाः
pradhānabhojane teṣāṃ yaṣṭikavrīhiśālayaḥ madhyamau yavagodhūmau śeṣā dantini cādhamāḥ
त्या धान्यांमध्ये मुख्य भोजनासाठी यष्टिक, व्रीहि व शाली हे उत्तम तांदूळ श्रेष्ठ आहेत. ज्वारी/जौ व गहू मध्यम; उरलेली धान्ये—दंतिनी इत्यादी—अधम मानली आहेत।
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Choose grains for staple meals by graded wholesomeness to support digestion and strength.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Grain hierarchy for principal meals (Pradhāna-bhojana)","lookup_keywords":["pradhāna-bhojana","śāli","vrīhi","yaṣṭika","yava","godhūma"],"quick_summary":"Fine rices (yaṣṭika, vrīhi, śāli) are best for main meals; barley and wheat are middling; other grains are inferior for regular staple use."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Āhāra-viveka (discernment in diet) through guṇa-based grading of staples.
Application: Plan household diet and therapeutic diets by selecting grains according to digestibility and suitability.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Ahara-vidhi (Dietary classification of grains)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic display of grains arranged in three tiers: best fine rices (yaṣṭika, vrīhi, śāli), middling barley and wheat, and inferior remaining grains such as dantini.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, three-tier grain arrangement on banana leaves, scribe/vaidya pointing with stylus, decorative borders, muted ochres and greens, didactic panel feel","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, symmetrical offering-tray composition with labeled rice varieties at center, barley and wheat flanking, gold-leaf accents on vessels, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional chart-like scene with neat bowls of grains and Sanskrit labels, fine outlines, soft pastel wash, emphasis on classification","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, market or granary scene with meticulous grain textures, merchant/physician indicating superior rice, detailed containers and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रधानभोजने = प्रधान + भोजने; यष्टिकव्रीहिशालयः = यष्टिक + व्रीहि + शालयः (द्वन्द्व); यवगोधूमौ = यव + गोधूमौ (द्वन्द्व); चाधमाः = च + अधमाः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 286 (Āhāra-vidhi / dhānya-varga context)
FAQs
It provides Ayurvedic-style dietetics by ranking staple grains for primary meals: fine rice varieties (yaṣṭika, vrīhi, śāli) as best, barley and wheat as middling, and other grains as inferior—guiding food selection by quality.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana catalogs practical knowledge such as nutrition and food taxonomy. This verse functions like a concise dietary manual entry, classifying grains by suitability for daily consumption.
Choosing purer, higher-grade staple foods for one’s main meal is presented as supportive of bodily clarity and sāttvika conduct, indirectly aiding cleanliness, discipline, and the steadiness valued in religious life.