Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 60
अध्याय २७८: सिद्धौषधानि
Siddha Medicines / Perfected Remedies
सर्पकीटविषाण्याशु जयत्यतिबलान्यपि चन्दनं पद्मकङ्कुष्ठं लताम्बूशीरपाटलाः
sarpakīṭaviṣāṇyāśu jayatyatibalānyapi candanaṃ padmakaṅkuṣṭhaṃ latāmbūśīrapāṭalāḥ
सर्पकीटोत्थानि विषाणि अतिबलान्यपि चन्दनं पद्मकं कङ्कुष्ठं लता अम्बु उशीरोऽथ पाटला च शीघ्रं जयन्ति।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Formulate cooling, aromatic antidotal pastes/decoctions for envenomation (snake/insect bites) using listed dravyas; apply as lepa, drink as hima/kvatha per need.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Sarpa-Kīṭa-Viṣa Pratighāta Dravyāṇi (Antidotal drugs for snake/insect poison)","lookup_keywords":["sarpa-viṣa","kīṭa-viṣa","candana","uśīra","pāṭalā"],"quick_summary":"A set of cooling, fragrant botanicals is stated to quickly subdue even strong snake and insect poisons; useful as topical paste and cooling drinks in viṣa-cikitsā."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Dravya-guṇa efficacy in viṣa-cikitsā (cooling, soothing antidotes counteract toxic heat and spread).
Application: Select śīta/śamana dravyas for acute toxic states; prioritize rapid, accessible measures (lepa + cooling drink).
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Agni Purana medicinal remedies / toxicology and antidotes)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vaidya prepares a fragrant cooling paste of sandalwood and vetiver, applying it to a snake/insect bite while a decoction cools in a vessel nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, a calm Ayurvedic physician grinding candana and uśīra on a stone slab, patient with bite mark, palm-leaf bundles of herbs labeled padmaka and pāṭalā, serene clinical setting","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich gold work, central seated Dhanvantari-like vaidya holding a mortar, attendants presenting candana and uśīra, a small snake and insect motif at the border, ornate medicinal vessels","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional tableau: herbs arranged in neat groups (candana, padmaka, uśīra, pāṭalā), stepwise preparation of lepa and cooling drink, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed apothecary scene with labeled jars, physician applying paste to a bitten forearm, small snake and insect in margin, delicate botanical rendering of vetiver and pāṭalā flowers"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्पकीटविषाणि = सर्प-कीट-विषाणि (समाहार-द्वन्द्व). अतिबलानि = अति-बलानि. लताम्बूशीरपाटलाः = लता-अम्बु-उशीर-पाटलाः (द्वन्द्व; अम्बु-उशीर इत्यत्र स्वर-सन्धिः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 278 (viṣa-cikitsā context); Agni Purana 279-280 (sarvarogahara aushadhi section begins)
FAQs
Ayurvedic viṣa-cikitsā (toxicology): it lists cooling, detoxifying substances used to counter snake and insect poisons, emphasizing rapid pacification of virulent venom.
It demonstrates the Purana’s practical medical coverage—specifically toxicology and materia medica—alongside its religious narratives, showing applied healthcare knowledge embedded in a Purāṇic compendium.
By preserving life through dharmic healing knowledge, the teaching supports compassion (dayā) and protection of beings—acts traditionally regarded as merit-producing and aligned with righteous conduct.