Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 16
Chapter 363: नृब्रह्मक्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
Groups of terms for Men, Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
स्याच्छरीरास्थ्नि कङ्कालः पृष्ठास्थ्नि तु कशेरुका शिरो ऽस्थनि करोटिः स्त्री पार्श्वास्थनि तु पर्शुका
syāccharīrāsthni kaṅkālaḥ pṛṣṭhāsthni tu kaśerukā śiro 'sthani karoṭiḥ strī pārśvāsthani tu parśukā
Tulang-tulang pada tubuh disebut «kaṅkāla», yakni rangka. Tulang pada bahagian belakang disebut «kaśerukā», iaitu tulang belakang/ruas vertebra. Tulang tengkorak disebut dengan istilah feminin «karoṭi». Tulang pada sisi badan disebut «parśukā», yakni tulang rusuk.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Standardizing anatomical terminology for diagnosis, surgery, and teaching (śarīra-śāstra), especially bone-related descriptions in fractures/dislocations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Asthi-nāma-saṅgraha (Bone nomenclature: kaṅkāla, kaśerukā, karoṭi, parśukā)","lookup_keywords":["asthi","kaṅkāla","kaśerukā","karoṭi","parśukā"],"quick_summary":"Defines key osteological terms: skeleton (kaṅkāla), vertebral column (kaśerukā), skull (karoṭi), and ribs (parśukā) for precise clinical and scholastic usage."}
Concept: Śabda-niyama (terminological precision) as a support for śarīra-jñāna.
Application: Build a shared vocabulary for physicians/teachers so observation and instruction match the same referents.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Sharira-rachana / Anatomy terminology)
Primary Rasa: Samanya
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic anatomy scene showing a labeled human skeletal framework highlighting spine, skull, and ribs with Sanskrit labels.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat earthy palette, a seated guru pointing to a stylized human skeleton diagram; labels in Devanagari: kaṅkāla, kaśerukā, karoṭi, parśukā; palm-leaf manuscript aesthetic background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf haloed teacher-physician (vaidya) holding a palm-leaf; beside him a simplified skeletal figure with highlighted spine, skull, ribs; rich reds and greens, ornate borders, minimal text labels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework instructional chart: skeleton with emphasized vertebral column and rib cage; small callouts in Sanskrit; calm classroom setting with manuscripts and inkpot.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly medical lesson: hakim/vaidya demonstrating a skeletal illustration on paper; fine detailing of bones, spine and ribs; Persianate interior, subtle Devanagari annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्याच्छरीरास्थ्नि = स्यात् + शरीरास्थ्नि; शिरो ऽस्थनि = शिरः + अस्थनि. शरीरास्थ्नि/पृष्ठास्थ्नि/पार्श्वास्थनि treated as तत्पुरुष compounds with सप्तमी एकवचन usage in context.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 363 (Śarīra-rachana / nāma-nirdeśa); Agni Purana sections on bhagna/cikitsā if present in the Ayurveda khanda
FAQs
It imparts Ayurvedic anatomical terminology—standard names for the skeleton, vertebral column, skull, and ribs—useful for medical description and instruction.
By cataloging precise technical vocabulary from Ayurveda (śarīra-rachana), it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium that preserves specialist knowledge beyond purely devotional topics.
Its primary intent is practical instruction; indirectly, accurate knowledge of the body supports disciplined living and informed observance of dharma, which traditional frameworks link to purification through right understanding.