Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 20
Chapter 367 — नित्यनैमीत्तिकप्राकृतप्रलयाः
The Nitya, Naimittika, and Prākṛta Dissolutions
रसात्मिकाश् च तिष्ठन्ति ह्य् आपस्तासां रसो गुणः पीयते ज्योतिषा तासु नष्टास्वग्निश् च दीप्यते
rasātmikāś ca tiṣṭhanti hy āpastāsāṃ raso guṇaḥ pīyate jyotiṣā tāsu naṣṭāsvagniś ca dīpyate
ਜਲ ਰਸਾਤਮਕ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਟਿਕਿਆ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਗੁਣ ‘ਰਸ’ ਹੈ। ਉਹ ਰਸ ਜੋਤੀ (ਤੇਜ) ਦੁਆਰਾ ਪੀ ਲਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ; ਅਤੇ ਜਲ ਮੁੱਕਣ ਤੇ ਅਗਨੀ ਭੜਕ ਉਠਦੀ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Explaining water’s rasa-guṇa and the role of tejas/agni in ‘drying up’ moisture—useful for Ayurvedic physiology (rasa-dhātu, agni) and for interpreting dehydration/heat states.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Āpaḥ as Rasa-ātmikā; Tejas ‘drinks’ rasa and Agni blazes when waters deplete","lookup_keywords":["āpaḥ","rasa-guṇa","tejas","agni","śoṣa"],"quick_summary":"Water is characterized by rasa (sap/essence). Tejas consumes that rasa; when bodily or cosmic waters are diminished, agni becomes more manifest and intense."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Interdependence of bhūtas and their guṇas: tejas transforms/consumes āpas’ rasa; manifestation of agni follows depletion of water.
Application: Apply bhūta-guṇa reasoning to bodily states (agni vs. āpas balance) and to cosmological pralaya descriptions.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Dravya-guṇa (Substance-qualities; physiology of rasa and tejas)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Waters depicted as a cool, flowing essence labeled ‘rasa’, while a radiant inner tejas draws it upward; as water recedes, a bright agni flame intensifies.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, blue water forms with white ‘rasa’ motifs, a central golden-red tejas orb pulling upward, flames emerging as water diminishes, stylized and symbolic, temple-mural palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, personified Āpaḥ as a graceful figure holding a pot of rasa, Tejas as a radiant deity-like flame with gold halo, gold embossing on flames, rich reds and blues.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional physiology scene: torso silhouette with ‘agni’ at navel and ‘āpas/rasa’ as fluid channels, arrows showing tejas consuming rasa, clean labels and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a hakim-like scholar illustrating digestion: a figure by a brazier (agni) with water vessel (āpas), subtle visual metaphor of evaporation/consumption, fine detail and calligraphy notes ‘रस’ and ‘तेजस्’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रसात्मिकाः+च → रसात्मिकाश्च; हि+आपः → ह्यापः; आपः+तासाम् → आपस्तासाम्; नष्टासु+अग्निः → नष्टास्वग्निः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 367.19 (āpaḥ absorbing pṛthivī-guṇa); Agni Purana Ayurveda sections elsewhere on agni, rasa, dhātu (general internal linkage)
FAQs
It conveys an Ayurvedic-style principle: bodily ‘waters’ are rasa-based, and inner tejas consumes (dries up) rasa; when moisture is depleted, agni becomes more intense—useful for understanding digestion, heat, and dehydration-type conditions.
Alongside theology and ritual, the text also preserves technical physiology (rasa–tejas–agni dynamics), showing the Agni Purana’s broad scope that includes proto-Ayurvedic concepts of metabolism and elemental interaction.
By linking āpaḥ (cooling, sustaining fluids) and agni/tejas (transformative fire), the verse reinforces a Purāṇic ethic of balance: disciplined regulation of heat and appetite supports purity, steadiness in practice, and avoidance of excess that leads to bodily and mental agitation.