Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 57

अध्याय २७८: सिद्धौषधानि

Siddha Medicines / Perfected Remedies

Devanagari script

धूपो वृश्चिकदष्टस्य शिखिपत्रघृतेन वा अर्कक्षीरेण संपिष्टं लोपा वीजं पलाशजं

Transliteration

dhūpo vṛścikadaṣṭasya śikhipatraghṛtena vā arkakṣīreṇa saṃpiṣṭaṃ lopā vījaṃ palāśajaṃ

Translation

ବୃଶ୍ଚିକଦଂଶରେ ଧୂପ (ଔଷଧୀୟ ଧୂମ) ଦେବା ଉଚିତ—ପଲାଶଜ ଲୋପା-ବୀଜକୁ ଶିଖୀପତ୍ର-ସିଦ୍ଧ ଘିଅ ସହ କିମ୍ବା ଅର୍କକ୍ଷୀର ସହ ପିଷି।

Word by Word

• धूपः: fumigation/incense
• धूपः: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• वृश्चिक-दष्टस्य: of a scorpion-stung person
• वृश्चिक-दष्टस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛścika (प्रातिपदिक) + daṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; √daṃś ‘दंश्’ क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (vṛścika-daṣṭasya = ‘of one stung by a scorpion’)

• शिखि-पत्र-घृतेन: with ghee (mixed with peacock-feather/leaf)
• शिखि-पत्र-घृतेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhin (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (śikhi-patra-ghṛtena = ‘with ghee (prepared) with peacock-feather/leaves’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (particle ‘or’)

• अर्क-क्षीरेण: with arka latex/milk
• अर्क-क्षीरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arka (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (arka-kṣīreṇa = ‘with arka-milk/latex’)

• सम्पिष्टम्: well-ground/pounded
• सम्पिष्टम्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√piṣ (धातु ‘पिष्’ क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; ‘ground/pounded together’

• लोपा: lopā (a medicinal substance/name)
• लोपा: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lopā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• वीजम्: seed
• वीजम्: Karma (कर्म/द्रव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• पलाश-जम्: from the palāśa tree
• पलाश-जम्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: palāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (palāśa-jam = ‘born from palāśa’, i.e., from palāśa tree)

Speaker

Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic medical lore)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Scorpion-sting management using medicated fumigation and topical paste preparation.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vṛścika-daṃśa: Dhūpa with Palāśa-lopā-bīja and Arka-kṣīra/ghṛta","lookup_keywords":["vṛścika-daṣṭa","dhūpa","arka-kṣīra","palāśa","lopā-bīja"],"quick_summary":"For scorpion sting, the text prescribes dhūpa (therapeutic fumigation) using palāśa-derived seeds, prepared with śikhī-leaf ghee or arka latex. It is a rapid-response toxicology measure."}

Ayurveda Layer

Dosha: Tridosha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prayoga (practical application) of dravya and upakrama (dhūpa) in acute conditions

Application: Recognize dhūpa as a therapeutic route (inhalational/environmental) in addition to ingestion/topical measures in viṣa conditions.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Bhaiṣajya (Agni Purana medicinal remedies)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: vira

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A small brazier emitting medicated smoke while a healer grinds palāśa seeds with arka latex or ghee, treating a scorpion-stung patient.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized brazier with curling smoke, healer grinding herbs on stone slab, patient with swollen hand/foot, bold outlines, herbal plants (palāśa, arka) in background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted brazier and lamp, thick decorative smoke curls, healer holding palāśa seeds, patient attended by family, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional layout: brazier for dhūpa, grinding stone, labeled ingredients (arka latex, ghṛta, palāśa seeds), calm clinical scene","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed indoor clinic, physician preparing paste, brazier with aromatic smoke, patient reclining, meticulous depiction of jars and botanical specimens"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"focused","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: वृश्चिकदष्टस्य = वृश्चिक + दष्टस्य; शिखिपत्रघृतेन = शिखि + पत्र + घृतेन; अर्कक्षीरेण = अर्क + क्षीरेण.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 278 (scorpion remedies sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Agni Purana
• Vṛścika (scorpion)
• Arka (Calotropis)
• Palāśa (Butea monosperma)
• Dhūpa (fumigation therapy)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches an anti-viṣa (anti-poison) therapeutic procedure: preparing a dhūpa (fumigation) using palāśa-derived lopā seeds, triturated with either medicated ghee or arka latex, for scorpion sting management.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical toxicology and pharmacy—showing household-accessible materia medica (palāśa, arka) and a concrete treatment method (dhūpa) for a common medical emergency (scorpion sting).

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

By presenting compassionate, life-preserving knowledge as dharma, the text frames healing as a meritorious act—reducing suffering and protecting life, which is traditionally upheld as a righteous duty.