Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 27
Chapter 31 — मार्जनविधानं
The Procedure of Mārjana / Purificatory Sprinkling
स्थावरं जङ्गमं वापि कृत्रिमं चापि यद्विषम् दन्तोद्भवं नखभवमाकाशप्रभवं विषम्
sthāvaraṃ jaṅgamaṃ vāpi kṛtrimaṃ cāpi yadviṣam dantodbhavaṃ nakhabhavamākāśaprabhavaṃ viṣam
स्थावरजङ्गमकृत्रिमभेदेन विषं त्रिविधं; दन्तोद्भवं नखभवं च, तथा आकाशप्रभवं विषमिति च कथ्यते।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Viṣavidyā taxonomy for diagnosis and response: distinguishing poison sources (plant/mineral, animal, artificial) and modes (bite, scratch, airborne) to guide immediate first-aid, antidote selection, and ritual precautions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Viṣa-bheda: Sthāvara, Jaṅgama, Kṛtrima; Danta/Nakha/Ākāśa-prabhava","lookup_keywords":["viṣa-bheda","sthāvara-viṣa","jaṅgama-viṣa","kṛtrima-viṣa","ākāśa-prabhava"],"quick_summary":"Poison is classified by origin and delivery—stationary, moving, artificial; and by teeth, nails/claws, or airborne—supporting rapid identification of exposure type."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Systematization of practical knowledge (taxonomy) as the first step of effective intervention.
Application: Use classification as a decision-tree: origin + route → likely symptom pattern → appropriate countermeasure and isolation.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Vishavidya (Toxicology and classification of poisons)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic depiction of poison categories: plants/minerals (sthāvara), animals (jaṅgama), prepared toxins (kṛtrima), and delivery via teeth, claws, and airborne miasma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, segmented panels showing serpent bite (teeth), clawed animal scratch (nails), poisonous plants, and dark airborne haze, with traditional bold outlines and symbolic labeling","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, icon-like panels with gold borders: plant poison, animal poison, alchemical vial (artificial), bite and scratch motifs, decorative but didactic","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional chart aesthetic, labeled vignettes for each poison type, muted colors, clarity of categories","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic flora and fauna, a small apothecary preparing kṛtrima poison, a scene of bite and scratch, atmospheric haze for airborne poison"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vāpi = vā + api; cāpi = ca + api; nakhabhavamākāśaprabhavam = nakha-bhavam + ākāśa-prabhavam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 31 (Viṣavidyā segment); Agni Purana medical/ayurvedic compendial passages (general)
FAQs
It imparts Viṣavidyā (Ayurvedic toxicology) by classifying poisons by source: plant/mineral (sthāvara), animal (jaṅgama), artificial compounds (kṛtrima), and by mode/origin such as bite (dantodbhava), claw/scratch (nakhabhava), and atmospheric/environmental (ākāśaprabhava).
By preserving a technical medical taxonomy used for diagnosis and treatment planning, it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium that includes applied sciences like Ayurveda alongside theology and ritual.
Though primarily medical, the instruction supports dharma by enabling protection of life (prāṇa-rakṣaṇa); safeguarding beings from poisoning is treated in Purāṇic ethics as a meritorious, life-preserving duty.