Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 18
अध्याय २७८: सिद्धौषधानि
Siddha Medicines / Perfected Remedies
तिक्तरुक्षाणि शाकानि तिक्तानि हरितानि च तैलानि तिलशिग्रुकविभीतकेङ्गुदानि च
tiktarukṣāṇi śākāni tiktāni haritāni ca tailāni tilaśigrukavibhītakeṅgudāni ca
कडू व रूक्ष शाक, तसेच कडू हिरव्या पालेभाज्या; आणि तेल—तीळ, शिग्रु (शेवगा), विभीतक व इंगुदी यांची तेले—ही उपयोगी आहेत.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Selecting vegetable qualities (bitter, drying) and appropriate oils for therapeutic cooking aligned to disease/dosha needs.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Tikta-Rūkṣa Śāka and Therapeutic Oils (Tila, Śigrū, Vibhītaka, Iṅgudī)","lookup_keywords":["tikta","rūkṣa","śāka","tila taila","ingudī"],"quick_summary":"Bitter, drying vegetables and certain oils (sesame, moringa, bibhitaka, ingudi) are indicated as dietary/therapeutic considerations, typically to counter heaviness and excess kapha/meda."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Guṇa-based dietetics: selecting dravya by rasa (tikta) and guṇa (rūkṣa) to balance doṣa.
Application: Plan meals by qualities (bitter/drying) rather than only by items; adjust oils and greens to the patient’s doṣa and season.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Āhāra-vidhi / Pathya-Apathya: dietetics and therapeutic diet)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An ingredient tableau: bitter leafy greens and drying vegetables beside small jars of sesame, moringa, bibhitaka, and ingudi oils, arranged for therapeutic cooking.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural still-life with stylized greens and oil jars, bold outlines, decorative floral borders, a vaidya’s hand indicating tikta-rūkṣa items.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore still-life with gold-highlighted oil vessels, richly colored greens, symmetrical arrangement, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional plate showing each oil jar labeled (tila, śigrū, vibhītaka, iṅgudī) and samples of bitter greens, delicate shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature kitchen scene with jars of oils and heaps of greens, naturalistic plant depiction, fine detailing of glass/metal containers."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तिलशिग्रुकविभीतकेङ्गुदानि → तिल + शिग्रु + कविभीतक + इङ्गुदानि (इङ्गुदानि; के + इङ्गुदानि → केङ्गुदानि).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 278 (Ahāra-vidhi; pathya lists)
FAQs
Āyurvedic dietetic guidance: it lists tikta (bitter) and rukṣa (drying) vegetables/greens and specific medicinal oils (sesame, moringa, bibhitaka, ingudī) as items to be used/considered in therapeutic food planning.
It shows the text functioning as a compendium by preserving practical Āyurvedic materia medica and diet rules—topics far beyond mythology—integrating health science into a Purāṇic framework.
In Purāṇic ethics, maintaining bodily balance through disciplined, appropriate diet supports purity (śauca), steadiness in worship and duty (dharma), and reduces tamas-inducing excess—thereby aiding sāttvika living.