Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 3
अश्ववाहनसारः
Aśvavāhana-sāra) — Essentials of Horses as Mounts (and Horse-Treatment
हेमन्तः शिशिरश् चैव वसन्तश्चाश्ववाहने ग्रीष्मेशरदि वर्षासु निषिद्धं वाहनं हये
hemantaḥ śiśiraś caiva vasantaścāśvavāhane grīṣmeśaradi varṣāsu niṣiddhaṃ vāhanaṃ haye
ହେମନ୍ତ, ଶିଶିର ଏବଂ ବସନ୍ତ ଋତୁ ଘୋଡ଼ା ଚଢିବା ପାଇଁ ଉପଯୁକ୍ତ ଅଟେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଗ୍ରୀଷ୍ମ, ଶରତ ଏବଂ ବର୍ଷା ଋତୁରେ ଅଶ୍ୱାରୋହଣ ନିଷେଧ ଅଟେ।
Lord Agni (in the Agni Purana’s instructional narration to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Seasonal workload regulation for horses: schedule riding/transport in cooler seasons; restrict in heat, autumnal stress, and monsoon to prevent illness, injury, and loss of performance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Seasonal suitability (ṛtu) for employing horses","lookup_keywords":["ṛtu-caryā","hemanta","śiśira","vasanta","grīṣma-śarad-varṣā"],"quick_summary":"Use horses primarily in Hemanta, Śiśira, and Vasanta; avoid heavy riding/working in summer, autumn, and rainy season to protect health and stamina."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Yukti (practical reasoning) in aligning labor with seasonal forces to preserve life and utility.
Application: Stable regulations: create annual calendars for transport, trade, and military drills based on climate/season.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Ashva-vidya (Horse management and rules of riding/transport)
Primary Rasa: Samanya
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A seasonal wheel showing Hemanta–Śiśira–Vasanta marked ‘allowed’ for riding, and Grīṣma–Śarad–Varṣā marked ‘prohibited’; grooms rest horses under shade during hot/monsoon scenes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular ṛtu-wheel motif, horse and groom in three cool-season vignettes (active) and three warm/wet-season vignettes (resting), bold flat colors and decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central horse with gold harness, surrounding six seasonal panels, gold highlights on the ‘approved’ seasons, ornate floral motifs for Vasanta, rain motifs for Varṣā.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic seasonal chart with clear labels, stable scene showing shaded rest in summer and careful footing avoided in rains, gentle pastel tones.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, six small panels like an album page: winter ride, spring exercise, and scenes of summer heat haze, autumn dryness, monsoon rain where the horse is kept back; fine landscape detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vasantaḥ+ca+aśvavāhane → vasantaścāśvavāhane; grīṣme śaradi (juxtaposed locatives); general locative series indicates time/condition.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 287 (Aśva management and treatment rules)
FAQs
It gives a practical Ashva-vidya rule: horses should be used for riding/work in Hemanta–Śiśira–Vasanta, and should not be ridden/overworked in Grīṣma, Śarad, and Varṣā due to seasonal strain and risk.
Beyond theology, it records applied governance and husbandry knowledge—seasonal regulations for transport and animal management—showing the text’s wide scope across dharma, administration, and practical sciences.
Following such niyamas aligns conduct with dharma—avoiding harm to living beings and preventing negligent action—thus supporting merit through restraint, care, and righteous livelihood.