Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 11
Chapter 288 — अश्वचिकित्सा
Aśva-cikitsā) | Horse-Medicine (Śālihotra to Suśruta
अश्वमेधे तु तुरगः पवित्रत्वात्तु हूयते वृषो निम्बवृहत्यौ च गुडूची च समाक्षिका
aśvamedhe tu turagaḥ pavitratvāttu hūyate vṛṣo nimbavṛhatyau ca guḍūcī ca samākṣikā
ਅਸ਼ਵਮੇਧ ਯੱਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਘੋੜਾ ਆਪਣੀ ਪਵਿੱਤਰਤਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਅੱਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਹੁਤੀ ਵਜੋਂ ਅਰਪਿਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਵ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਭ (ਬੈਲ) ਵੀ; ਅਤੇ ਨੀਮ, ਬ੍ਰਿਹਤੀ, ਗੁਡੂਚੀ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਹਿਦ ਸਮੇਤ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਵੀ (ਹਵਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ) ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Yajña-vidhi / Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual procedure and sacrificial materia: items offered in Aśvamedha and related offerings, emphasizing purification intent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aśvamedha-homa dravya: horse, bull, neem, bṛhatī, guḍūcī, honey-associated offering","lookup_keywords":["aśvamedha","homa-dravya","nimbā","bṛhatī","guḍūcī"],"quick_summary":"The verse lists sacrificial offerings connected with Aśvamedha, framing the horse (and bull) as purifying, alongside specific medicinal plants and honey-associated substances used as oblations."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Yajña as purifier: offerings symbolize and effect ritual cleansing and royal legitimacy.
Application: Follow correct dravya selection and intent (pavitrत्व) in fire-offerings to align rite with its purificatory goal.
Khanda Section: Ritual & Sacrificial Procedure (Yajña-vidhi / Agneya-vidyā)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grand Aśvamedha fire-altar with priests performing homa; symbolic depiction of horse and bull as sacrificial representatives; offerings of neem leaves, bṛhatī plant, guḍūcī vine, and honey poured into flames.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: blazing yajña-kuṇḍa, ṛtviks in white with sacred threads, stylized horse and bull motifs near the altar; neem and guḍūcī rendered as iconic plants; warm reds and ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central fire-altar with gold-highlighted flames; priests offering ladles; decorative gold around horse emblem and honey pot; rich temple-like setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional composition showing labeled dravyas—nimba, bṛhatī, guḍūcī, madhu—beside the homa; precise linework and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: royal-sponsored sacrifice scene with detailed pavilion, priests, attendants holding plant bundles and honey vessel; naturalistic flora and controlled flame depiction."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पवित्रत्वात्तु = पवित्रत्वात् + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana yajña-vidhi sections (general); Agni Purana 288 (Agneya-vidyā context)
FAQs
It specifies sanctioned Aśvamedha offerings—animal oblations (horse, bull) and purificatory plant-dravya (neem, bṛhatī, guḍūcī) including honey-mixtures—indicating what may be consigned to the sacred fire for ritual purification.
It blends śrauta-style yajña procedure with a catalog-like mention of medicinal botanicals (nimba, bṛhatī, guḍūcī, honey), showing how the Agni Purana cross-references ritual orthopraxy with Ayurveda-oriented materia medica.
The verse frames these offerings as inherently purifying (pavitra), implying that correct oblation of such prescribed substances in the Aśvamedha is a means of ritual cleansing and merit (puṇya) through conformity to sacred injunction.