Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 26
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
पृष्ठवंशस्योपगताश् चतस्रो मांसरज्जवः नवत्यश् च तथा पेश्यस्तासां बन्धनकारिकाः
pṛṣṭhavaṃśasyopagatāś catasro māṃsarajjavaḥ navatyaś ca tathā peśyastāsāṃ bandhanakārikāḥ
ਰੀੜ੍ਹ ਦੀ ਹੱਡੀ (ਪ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਠਵੰਸ਼) ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜੀਆਂ ਚਾਰ ਮਾਸ-ਰੱਜੂਆਂ ਹਨ; ਅਤੇ ਨੱਬੇ ‘ਪੇਸ਼ੀ’ ਹਨ, ਜੋ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਬੰਧਨ-ਕਾਰਕ (ਬਾਂਧਣ ਵਾਲੇ) ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Anatomical enumeration supporting understanding of spinal support structures; relevant to back injury management, posture training, and therapeutic strengthening.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Spinal attachments: four māṃsa-rajjus and ninety peśīs","lookup_keywords":["pṛṣṭhavaṃśa","māṃsa-raज्जु","peśī","navati","bandhana"],"quick_summary":"States four muscular ‘cords’ connected to the spine and ninety peśīs acting as binding fastenings—an enumerative model for spinal stability."}
Concept: The body is an engineered structure: stability arises from cords and bindings (rajjū/bandhana) supporting the axial column.
Application: Use the ‘axial column + bindings’ model to guide posture, ergonomics, and disciplined movement in sādhanā and daily work.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Sharira-Rachana / Human Anatomy)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic of the spinal column with four prominent muscular cords attached and numerous smaller peśī bands shown as fastening ties along the back.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized back-view figure, spine as a central staff, four thick cords attached, many fine bands as ties, earthy pigments, clear didactic geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, back-view torso panel with gold-highlighted spine and four cords, embossed patterning for the ninety peśīs as repeated motifs, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, anatomical chart with spine and attachments, fine lines for multiple peśīs, calm palette, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene of a physician illustrating spinal anatomy on parchment, detailed vertebral column and cord-like muscles, elegant borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pṛṣṭhavaṃśasyopagatāḥ = pṛṣṭhavaṃśasya + upagatāḥ; navatyaś = navatyaḥ (visarga sandhi); peśyastāsāṃ = peśyaḥ + tāsām.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369 (śarīra-saṅkhyā; nāḍī/marma-related enumerations)
FAQs
It imparts Ayurvedic anatomical enumeration: the verse specifies the number and functional role of muscle-like cords and peśī (fibrous muscular/tendinous bands) associated with the spinal column.
By preserving technical Śārīra (anatomy) vocabulary and numerical body-mapping—material typically associated with Ayurveda—alongside the Purana’s broader coverage of ritual, polity, and other sciences.
Its primary aim is practical knowledge (śārīra-jñāna); in Purāṇic framing, accurate understanding of the body supports disciplined living and informed religious practice by clarifying the embodied basis of dharma and health.