Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 58
अश्ववाहनसारः
Aśvavāhana-sāra) — Essentials of Horses as Mounts (and Horse-Treatment
मध्ये भद्रादिजातीनां मण्डो देयो हि सादिना दर्शनं भोततीक्षस्य निरुत्साहः क्षुधा हयः
madhye bhadrādijātīnāṃ maṇḍo deyo hi sādinā darśanaṃ bhotatīkṣasya nirutsāhaḥ kṣudhā hayaḥ
भद्रादिजातीनां हयानां मध्ये मण्डो देयः सादिना; भोततीक्षदर्शनं निरुत्साहः क्षुधा च हयस्य (दौर्बल्य)लक्षणम्।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Veterinary care for cavalry horses: feeding thin gruel at midday for certain breeds; recognizing signs of debility—dull appearance, low spirit, and hunger—to adjust care and workload.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Midday gruel (maṇḍa) regimen and debility signs in Bhadrā-type horses","lookup_keywords":["aśva-cikitsā","Bhadrā-jāti","maṇḍa","nirutsāha","feeding regimen"],"quick_summary":"Give thin gruel at midday to Bhadrā and related horse breeds; dull look, loss of spirit, and hunger indicate a weakened condition needing dietary/supportive adjustment."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Lakṣaṇa-based diagnosis and pathya (diet regimen) as primary therapy.
Application: In any system maintenance, watch early indicators and adjust inputs (nutrition/rest) before failure.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Ashva-chikitsa / Veterinary Science)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stable scene: handler offers a bowl of thin gruel to a Bhadrā-type horse at midday; the horse looks dull and low-spirited, with the rider observing signs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style stable courtyard, horse with stylized breed markings, attendant holding gruel vessel, midday light suggested by warm tones, emphasis on observation of the horse’s face and posture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly adorned horse and handler, gold work on vessel and harness, calm feeding moment, iconic frontal presentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, veterinary instructional scene: labeled-like clarity without text—bowl of maṇḍa, handler posture, horse’s dull expression, soft palette and fine outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed stable with grooms, bowl of gruel, careful rendering of horse coat and expression, midday ambiance, observational realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhadra + ādi + jātīnām → bhadrādijātīnām. The segment 'bhotatīkṣasya' is textually uncertain; treated as a karmadhāraya epithet in genitive singular.
Related Themes: Agni Purana aśva-śikṣā/aśva-cikitsā passages on breeds (jāti), feeding (āhāra), and fatigue signs (same khanda)
FAQs
It gives practical ashva-chikitsa guidance: a midday feeding rule (maṇḍa—thin gruel) for certain horse-types and diagnostic signs like low spirit and hunger.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied knowledge—animal management and veterinary dietetics—showing the Purana’s coverage of medicine, husbandry, and day-to-day governance needs.
Caring properly for dependent beings (like horses used in travel and duty) is treated as dharmic conduct—supporting non-cruelty and responsible stewardship, which accrues merit through righteous action.