Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 22
Kalpasāgara (Ocean of Formulations) — Mṛtyuñjaya Preparations and Rasāyana Regimens
खदिरेण च निर्गुण्ड्या कण्टकार्याथ वासकात् वर्षाभुवा तद्रसैर् वा भावितो वटिकाकृतः
khadireṇa ca nirguṇḍyā kaṇṭakāryātha vāsakāt varṣābhuvā tadrasair vā bhāvito vaṭikākṛtaḥ
Готовят с khadira, nirguṇḍī, kaṇṭakārī и vāsaka; либо растирают и пропитывают соками varṣābhū и тех же трав, после чего формуют пилюли (vaṭikā).
Lord Agni (instructional narration within the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic medical section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Preparation of a polyherbal pill (vaṭikā) by bhāvanā (trituration/impregnation) using specified herbs and their juices for therapeutic use.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaṭikā-nirmāṇa with Khadira–Nirguṇḍī–Kaṇṭakārī–Vāsaka and Varṣābhū bhāvanā","lookup_keywords":["vaṭikā","bhāvanā","khadira","nirguṇḍī","vāsaka"],"quick_summary":"Make pills from khadira, nirguṇḍī, kaṇṭakārī, and vāsaka; alternatively (or additionally) triturate the mass with the expressed juices of varṣābhū and the listed herbs before rolling into vaṭikā."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Bhaiṣajya-kalpanā: potency is increased through saṃskāra like bhāvanā and appropriate dosage form (vaṭikā).
Application: Standardize preparation steps (ingredients + juice-trituration + pill-making) for reproducible medicine.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies / Bhaiṣajya-kalpa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An Ayurvedic physician-apothecary grinding herbs on a stone slab, adding fresh green juice, then rolling the paste into small round pills arranged on a leaf tray.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, flat vivid colors, traditional vaidya preparing medicine, stone mortar (śilā), herbs khadira bark, nirguṇḍī leaves, kaṇṭakārī berries, vāsaka leaves, assistants holding juice vessel, temple-atelier ambience, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated vaidya with gold-leaf highlights on vessels and ornaments, herbal ingredients displayed in bowls, pill-making scene, rich reds and greens, embossed gold detailing on containers","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional composition showing step-by-step: grinding, bhāvanā with juice, rolling vaṭikā, labeled herb bowls, calm workshop interior","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed apothecary scene with attendants, precise depiction of herbs and stone grinder, small pills on parchment, naturalistic palette, fine architectural interior"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तद्रसैर् वा → तत्-रसैः वा (र्-लोप/विसर्ग-सन्धि लेखन); कण्टकार्याथ → कण्टकार्य अथ; वटिकाकृतः → वटिका-कृतः (समास/उपपद-योग).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Khanda: Ayurveda, Bhaiṣajya-kalpa sections around Adhyāya 285 (Kalpa-sāgara context)
FAQs
It teaches an Ayurvedic pharmacy method: preparing a vaṭikā (pill) by combining specific herbs and performing bhāvanā (repeated levigation/impregnation) with their expressed juices to enhance potency and bind the mass for pill-making.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical applied sciences—here, bhaishajya-kalpa (pharmaceutics)—listing materia medica and a concrete dosage-form process (juicing, levigation, pill formation) typical of classical Ayurvedic compendia.
While primarily medical, such prescriptions in the Purana are framed as dharmic welfare-knowledge (lokānugraha): preserving health supports ritual duty, study, and righteous living, making healing knowledge part of meritorious conduct.