Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 24
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
मांसस्नायुशिरास्थिन्यः चत्वारश् च पृथक् पृथक् मणिबन्धनगुल्फेषु निबद्धानि परस्परं
māṃsasnāyuśirāsthinyaḥ catvāraś ca pṛthak pṛthak maṇibandhanagulpheṣu nibaddhāni parasparaṃ
ਮਾਸ, ਸਨਾਯੂ, ਸ਼ਿਰਾ ਅਤੇ ਅਸਥੀ—ਇਹ ਚਾਰੇ, ਹਰ ਇੱਕ ਵੱਖਰਾ—ਮਣੀਬੰਧ (ਕਲਾਈ) ਅਤੇ ਗੁਲਫ਼ (ਟਖਨਾ) ਜੋੜਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਬੱਝੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Clinical anatomy for understanding joint integrity (wrist/ankle) in trauma care, marma-avoidance, bandaging, and therapeutic manipulation (abhyanga/mardana).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Wrist and ankle joint binding: māṃsa–snāyu–śirā–asthi interlock","lookup_keywords":["maṇibandha","gulpha","māṃsa","snāyu","śirā","asthi"],"quick_summary":"States that muscle, tendon/ligament, vessel, and bone remain distinct yet mutually bound at the wrist and ankle—highlighting composite joint structure relevant to injury and therapy."}
Concept: Functional unity arises from distinct components being ‘bound together’ (paraspra-nibaddha) at key junctions.
Application: Apply systems-thinking in therapy: treat joints by considering all contributing tissues rather than a single structure.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Sharira-Rachana (Anatomy and Marma/Joint-structure teaching)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close anatomical focus on wrist and ankle showing four distinct tissues—muscle, tendon/ligament, vessel, and bone—interlaced and bound at the joint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized limb close-up, layered bands representing māṃsa, snāyu, śirā, asthi around maṇibandha and gulpha, clear contours, didactic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, two inset panels (wrist and ankle), gold-highlighted outlines for bone and vessel paths, embossed decorative frame, instructional iconography.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, medical-illustration clarity, labeled-looking color coding for four tissues at wrist and ankle, minimal background, precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, hakim/vaidya demonstrating wrist and ankle anatomy to students, fine detailing of tendons and vessels, manuscript-like margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: māṃsasnāyuśirāsthinyaḥ = māṃsa-snāyu-śirā-asthin-yaḥ (द्वन्द्वसमास); catvāraś = catvāraḥ (visarga sandhi); maṇibandhanagulpheṣu = maṇibandhana-gulpheṣu.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369 (śarīra-racanā and marma enumerations around joints)
FAQs
It conveys anatomical knowledge (Ayurveda/Śārīra): at the wrist and ankle joints, muscle, tendons/ligaments, vessels, and bone are structurally interbound—useful for diagnosis, therapy, and injury management.
Beyond myth and ritual, the text preserves technical Ayurveda—precise joint anatomy and tissue categories—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium spanning medicine, governance, arts, and other sciences.
While primarily medical, such śāstric body-knowledge supports dharma by protecting life and enabling disciplined practice; caring for the body as an instrument of duty is treated as merit-bearing (puṇya) in Purāṇic ethics.