Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 36
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
पञ्चपेशीशतान्येव चत्वारिंशत्तथोर्ध्वगाः चतुःशतन्तु शाखासु अन्तराधौ च षष्टिका
pañcapeśīśatānyeva catvāriṃśattathordhvagāḥ catuḥśatantu śākhāsu antarādhau ca ṣaṣṭikā
Sesungguhnya terdapat lima ratus otot (peśī), dan tambahan empat puluh lagi yang berada di bahagian atas. Daripadanya, empat ratus berada pada anggota (śākhā), dan enam puluh pada bahagian tengah/batang tubuh (antarādhi).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Muscle (peśī) enumeration by body regions for śārīra instruction; supports understanding of movement, injury, and surgical approaches.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Peśī-saṅkhyā and regional distribution (ūrdhva/śākhā/antara)","lookup_keywords":["peśī","māṃsa","śākhā","ūrdhva","śārīra"],"quick_summary":"States total muscle counts and their distribution across upper region, limbs, and trunk—used as a memorized anatomical framework."}
Concept: Functional anatomy through enumeration—orderliness of the embodied system.
Application: Training memory and clinical localization for vaidya/surgeon.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Anatomy / Śārīra—Nervous and Muscular Channels)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An anatomical teaching scene showing muscle groups highlighted: upper region, limbs, and trunk, with counts annotated beside each region.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized human figure with red-toned muscle areas; upper region emphasized; guru pointing with a staff; numbers written on decorative cartouches; flat ornamental background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-embossed outlines of muscle regions; teacher and disciple; rich jewel tones; count labels in Devanagari; symmetrical composition with ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear educational plate—muscle regions shaded, labels for ūrdhva/śākhā/antara; fine linework; subdued palette; classroom ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: physician demonstrates regional musculature on an illustrated scroll; assistants note counts; delicate shading and precise labeling; interior with patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pañcapeśīśatānyeva = pañca-peśī-śatāni + eva; catvāriṃśattathā = catvāriṃśat + tathā; tathordhvagāḥ = tathā + ūrdhvagāḥ; catuḥśatantu = catuḥśatam + tu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369.34 (snāyu counts); Agni Purana 369.33 (asthi/sandhi counts)
FAQs
This verse imparts Ayurvedic śārīra-vidyā: a technical enumeration of peśī (muscles), distributing them by bodily regions—upper part, limbs (śākhā), and trunk (antarādhi).
By preserving medical-anatomical taxonomy (counts and regional classification of muscles), the Agni Purana functions as a compendium that includes Ayurveda alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences.
Accurate knowledge of the body is treated as a form of śāstra-jñāna; it supports right practice (yoga, healing, and disciplined living), which is traditionally regarded as conducive to purity, restraint, and dharmic merit.