Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 21
Kalpasāgara (Ocean of Formulations) — Mṛtyuñjaya Preparations and Rasāyana Regimens
चित्रकेन तथा पुर्वस् तथा शुण्ठीविडङ्गतः लोहेन भृङ्गराजेन बलया निम्बपञ्चकैः
citrakena tathā purvas tathā śuṇṭhīviḍaṅgataḥ lohena bhṛṅgarājena balayā nimbapañcakaiḥ
चित्रकेन तथा पूर्वैः शुण्ठीविडङ्गसंयुतैः । लोहेन भृङ्गराजेन बलया निम्बपञ्चकैः ॥
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana framing)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Rasashastra","practical_application":"Ingredient expansion for a rasāyana/therapeutic compound: adding citraka, pūrva, śuṇṭhī, viḍaṅga, iron preparation, bhṛṅgarāja, balā, and pañcaka of neem—suggesting a multi-herb, metabolism- and parasite-targeting, strengthening formulation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Citraka–Viḍaṅga–Loha–Bhṛṅgarāja–Balā with Nimba-pañcaka (Ingredient Additions)","lookup_keywords":["Citraka","Viḍaṅga","Loha","Nimba-pañcaka","Balā"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates additional dravyas—digestive stimulants, krimighna agents, iron, tonics, and neem components—indicating how a base preparation may be fortified for broader therapeutic and rasāyana aims."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Yukti (rational compounding): combining dravyas by function—dīpana, krimighna, balya, and dhātu-vardhana—to widen therapeutic scope.
Application: Formulate by roles (digestion, cleansing, strengthening, hematinic) rather than by single-ingredient reliance.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies and herbal formulations)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A compounding table with multiple herbs and an iron preparation: citraka root, dried ginger, viḍaṅga berries, neem leaves/bark/flowers/fruits (pañcaka concept), bhṛṅgarāja plant, balā plant; a practitioner blending them into a unified medicine.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized herb assemblage with neem tree prominent, iron vessel representing loha-yoga, vaidya mixing powders, warm earthy palette, clear botanical motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold work on iron container and medicine bowls, neem branch arching overhead, central compounding scene, rich greens and reds, ornate border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional botanical chart composition: each ingredient drawn and labeled, arrows converging into a single formulation bowl, emphasis on clarity and proportion","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed apothecary still-life with herbs and metallic loha container, physician compounding medicine, fine brushwork on neem leaves and viḍaṅga berries"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुर्वस् normalized to पूर्वः (likely scribal/orthographic). शुण्ठीविडङ्गतः analyzed as avyaya ending in -तः (ablatival adverbial), functioning as अपादान.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 285 (continuation of rasayana/bheṣaja compounding instructions around this ingredient list)
FAQs
Ayurvedic materia medica: it enumerates specific herbs and an iron preparation to be combined as ingredients in a therapeutic formulation.
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium beyond myth—preserving practical medical knowledge by listing drug-ingredients (herbs and mineral/metal preparations) used in classical Ayurveda.
By framing healthcare as dharmic upkeep of the body, such prescriptions support purity and capacity for religious duties; healing is treated as a meritorious, life-sustaining application of sacred knowledge.