Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 40
Mantra-paribhāṣā (मन्त्रपरिभाषा) — Colophon/Closure
गलस्थटङ्गो गोमायुगृध्रोलूककपर्दिकाः तैलं कपालकार्पासा निषेधे भस्म नष्टये
galasthaṭaṅgo gomāyugṛdhrolūkakapardikāḥ tailaṃ kapālakārpāsā niṣedhe bhasma naṣṭaye
निषेधे—गलस्थटङ्गगोमायुगृध्रोलूककपर्दिकायुतं तैलं, कपालकार्पाससहितं च; एतद् भस्मनाशाय विधीयते।
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Apotropaic/therapeutic countermeasure (pratiṣedha) using medicated oil and adjunct substances to neutralize a harmful ash-based effect (bhasma), likely from hostile rites or toxic applications.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Pratiṣedha-taila for bhasma-nāśa (counteracting harmful ash)","lookup_keywords":["pratiṣedha","taila","bhasma-nāśa","go-maya","gṛdhra-ulūka","kapardikā"],"quick_summary":"A medicated oil prepared with specified ingredients is prescribed as a counteracting measure to remove/neutralize ‘bhasma’ effects; it reflects Ayurveda–bhaiṣajya blended with protective (rakṣā) therapeutics."}
Concept: Bhaiṣajya as rakṣā: material formulations are used to negate harmful influences, treating affliction as something removable through prescribed dravya-yoga.
Application: When an affliction is framed as an applied ‘bhasma’ effect, respond with a structured counter-formula rather than panic—seek proper preparation and supervised application.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Bhaiṣajya (Medicinal Remedies and Therapeutics)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A healer prepares a dark medicated oil in a small pot; nearby are symbolic ingredients (cow-dung, shells/kapardikā, cotton, skull-bone), and birds (vulture, owl) indicated as sources; the oil is used to remove a harmful ash effect.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, vaidya in a simple room stirring a bronze pot of oil over a small fire; arranged ingredients on banana leaves; stylized owl and vulture motifs in the background; earthy palette, bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central healer with ornate vessels; gold leaf on pots and ladles; ingredients displayed as emblematic icons (kapardikā shells, cotton tuft, skull fragment); dramatic contrast to suggest protective remedy.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional pharmacy scene: labeled ingredients and a pot of taila; healer applying oil to a patient’s forehead/limbs to remove ‘bhasma’; clean composition, delicate shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, apothecary setting with shelves; physician compounding oil; assistant holds cotton and a small container of ash; fine detail on utensils and textiles, subdued tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: galasthaṭaṅgo → gala-stha-ṭaṅgaḥ (final -o for -aḥ in saṃhitā); gomāyugṛdhrolūka... treated as dvandva concatenation; naṣṭaye is dative of naṣṭi (loss/destruction).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 293 (bhaiṣajya/pratiṣedha sequence); Agni Purana (viṣa-cikitsā and rakṣā remedies in adjacent verses)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific medicated oil formulation—using listed substances—as a counter-remedy (niṣedha) to remove the harmful effect described as bhasma (ash/ash-based affliction).
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana catalogs practical therapeutic and protective recipes; this verse is a concise entry in its bhaiṣajya (medical) compendium, showing applied pharmacology mixed with warding/counteraction procedures.
By prescribing a niṣedha (counteraction), the verse frames healing as both physical relief and ritual purification—removing a polluting or harmful influence (bhasma) to restore auspiciousness and well-being.