Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 9
अध्यायः २८६ — गजचिकित्सा
Elephant Medicine
लवणैः पञ्चभिर्मश्रा प्रतिपानाय वारुणी धन्वन्तरिरुवाचेति ञ मर्दना इति ञ विडङ्गत्रिफलाव्योषसैन्धवैः कवलान् कृतान्
lavaṇaiḥ pañcabhirmaśrā pratipānāya vāruṇī dhanvantariruvāceti ña mardanā iti ña viḍaṅgatriphalāvyoṣasaindhavaiḥ kavalān kṛtān
Вāruṇī (лекарственный ферментированный напиток), смешанная с пятью солями, принимается как запивка после приёма (постдозовый носитель). Так сказал Дханвантари. Препарат, называемый «Mardanā» (состав для растирания/втирания), готовят, формируя ротовые комочки (kavala) из viḍaṅga, triphalā, vyoṣa и saindhava (каменной соли).
Dhanvantari (as cited within Lord Agni’s encyclopedic narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Formulation guidance: anupāna (post-dose vehicle) using vāruṇī with pañca-lavaṇa; preparation of kavala (oral bolus/gargle) named Mardanā from specific drugs.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Vāruṇī + Pañca-lavaṇa Anupāna; ‘Mardanā’ Kavala with Viḍaṅga–Triphala–Vyoṣa–Saindhava","lookup_keywords":["vāruṇī","pañca-lavaṇa","anupāna","mardanā","kavala"],"quick_summary":"Use vāruṇī mixed with five salts as a post-dose drink; prepare ‘Mardanā’ as oral boluses (kavala) from viḍaṅga, triphalā, vyoṣa, and saindhava for oral/upper-channel cleansing and stimulation."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Aushadha-yoga and anupāna-vidhi: efficacy depends on correct vehicle and mode (kavala).
Application: Select anupāna to direct drug action; use kavala as a localized therapy for mouth/throat and as dīpana support.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies and formulations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dispensary scene: vāruṇī in a flask being mixed with five salts; nearby, a mortar and pestle grind viḍaṅga, triphalā, vyoṣa, and saindhava into boluses labeled ‘Mardanā’, with a patient holding a kavala in the mouth.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized pharmacy table with five salt bowls, a dark fermented vāruṇī pot, vaidya grinding herbs, patient performing kavala, decorative borders and flat color fields.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-leaf accents on bowls of salts and ornate medicine containers, central vaidya presenting a kavala bolus, rich jewel tones, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: labeled ingredients (viḍaṅga, triphalā, vyoṣa, saindhava), stepwise depiction of mixing and forming kavala, delicate shading and fine outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature workshop scene with detailed utensils, translucent flask of vāruṇī, small bowls of salts, scribe noting ‘Dhanvantari uvāca’, patient in profile doing kavala."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पञ्चभिर्मश्रा → पञ्चभिः + मिश्राः/मिश्रा (here taken as मिश्राः→मिश्रा by textual variant); धन्वन्तरिरुवाच → धन्वन्तरिः + उवाच; (ña markers ignored as editorial/printing artifacts)
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda khanda: sections on lavaṇa-varga, anupāna, asava/ariṣṭa-like preparations, kavala/gandūṣa
FAQs
It gives an Ayurvedic protocol: Vāruṇī mixed with the five salts is prescribed as an anupāna (after-drink), and it teaches a specific cavana/kavala-style oral bolus formula made from viḍaṅga, triphalā, vyoṣa, and saindhava.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical medical recipes and dosage-vehicles (anupāna) and even oral-therapy preparations (kavala), showing it functions as a compendium of applied sciences like Ayurveda.
By promoting bodily purification—especially of digestion and the mouth/speech-organs—such remedies support sāttvika discipline and cleanliness, indirectly aiding ritual fitness (adhikāra) and reducing doṣa-driven impurity that obstructs worship and right conduct.