Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 28
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
सूक्ष्मैः सह चतुःषष्ठिर्दशना विंशतिर्नखाः पाणिपादशलाकाश् च तासां स्थानचतुष्टयं
sūkṣmaiḥ saha catuḥṣaṣṭhirdaśanā viṃśatirnakhāḥ pāṇipādaśalākāś ca tāsāṃ sthānacatuṣṭayaṃ
Включая и самые тонкие части, зубов насчитывается шестьдесят четыре; ногтей — двадцать; и имеются также пальцы рук и ног, подобные стержням — всё это располагается в четырёх местах (в четырёх группах).
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vashistha, in the encyclopedic discourse style of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Sharira-rachana (anatomy) memorization for vaidya training; baseline counts used in diagnosis, surgery, and marma-awareness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Danta–Nakha–Anguli-sankhya (Counts of teeth, nails, digits)","lookup_keywords":["danta","nakha","anguli","sharira-rachana","sankhya"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates standard bodily counts—teeth, nails, and digit-segments—serving as a mnemonic anatomical checklist for students of Ayurveda."}
Concept: Sharira as knowable, countable structure; knowledge through systematic enumeration (sankhya) for applied healing.
Application: Supports clinical observation and teaching by fixed lists (anga-pratyanga sankhya).
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Sharira-rachana / Anatomy and enumeration of bodily parts)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teaching scene where an acharya points to a schematic human figure, labeling teeth, nails, and hand/foot digits in four sets (hands and feet).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ochre-red background, a seated Ayurveda acharya with palm-leaf manuscript, stylized human figure diagram showing teeth, nails, fingers and toes grouped in four sets, clean linework, traditional ornaments, minimal shading.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on the acharya’s halo and manuscript, frontal seated teacher, simplified anatomical chart beside him highlighting teeth and nails, rich reds and greens, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate lines and soft washes, instructional anatomical plate with labeled teeth and nails, acharya demonstrating with a pointer, calm classroom ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing, a small medical lesson in a courtly library, physician-teacher showing a folio with teeth/nail/digit counts, muted palette, intricate textiles and margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुःषष्ठिः + दशनाः → चतुःषष्ठिर्दशनाः; विंशतिः + नखाः → विंशतिर्नखाः; शलाकाः + च → शलाकाश् च (visarga before ca).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369 (Sharira-rachana section); Agni Purana marma/anga-pratyanga related passages (within Ayurveda khanda)
FAQs
Ayurvedic śārīra-vidyā: a technical enumeration of bodily parts—counts of teeth, nails, and the distribution of hand/foot digits—used in classical anatomical description.
It shows the Purana functioning as a compendium beyond myth—preserving medical/anatomical schemata (śārīra-saṅkhyā) alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences.
By cataloging the body with precision, the text supports disciplined self-knowledge (deha-bodha) that underpins purity practices and mindful conduct, reinforcing dharmic living through awareness of embodiment.