Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 8
अध्याय २७८: सिद्धौषधानि
Siddha Medicines / Perfected Remedies
अधोगे वमनं शस्तमूर्ध्वगे च विरेचनम् रक्तपित्ते तथा पानं षडङ्गं शुण्ठिवर्जितम्
adhoge vamanaṃ śastamūrdhvage ca virecanam raktapitte tathā pānaṃ ṣaḍaṅgaṃ śuṇṭhivarjitam
अधोगतव्याधौ वमनं शस्तं, ऊर्ध्वगतव्याधौ च विरेचनम्। तथा रक्तपित्ते शुण्ठिवर्जितं षडङ्गपानं पेयं।
Lord Agni (narrating Ayurvedic therapeutic guidance to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Directional doṣa-gati based śodhana choice (vamana vs virechana) and use of ṣaḍaṅga-pāna (without śuṇṭhī) in raktapitta.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Doṣa-Gati Śodhana: Vamana/Virechana and Ṣaḍaṅga-Pāna in Raktapitta","lookup_keywords":["raktapitta","vamana","virechana","doṣa-gati","ṣaḍaṅga"],"quick_summary":"Select emesis or purgation according to the direction of morbid flow; in bleeding disorders (raktapitta), administer the cooling ṣaḍaṅga drink omitting dry ginger."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Therapy must match the vector of pathology (gati) and the heat of pitta; avoid contradictory (uṣṇa) substances in bleeding disorders.
Application: Triage logic for śodhana selection and formulation adjustment.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Cikitsā—Therapeutics; Śodhana for Raktapitta and doṣa-gati)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A physician assesses whether the disorder is moving upward or downward, choosing emesis or purgation; a cooling ṣaḍaṅga drink is prepared with ginger intentionally set aside.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel composition: left panel vamana setup, right panel virechana setup; central bowl of ṣaḍaṅga drink, śuṇṭhī kept apart; patient with signs of raktapitta, calm authoritative vaidya","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-highlighted medicine vessels, physician holding palm-leaf notes ‘ūrdhva/adho’, ornate cup of ṣaḍaṅga-pāna, ginger root shown crossed-out symbolically","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic diagram-like scene: arrows indicating gati (up/down), corresponding therapy icons, ingredient list for ṣaḍaṅga with śuṇṭhī omitted","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, clinic scene with physician and assistants, patient with cloth stained (suggesting bleeding), attendants preparing a cooling drink; ginger placed aside on a tray"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śastam+ūrdhvage → शस्तमूर्ध्वगे; ṣaṭ+aṅgam → षडङ्गम्; śuṇṭhi+varjitam → शुण्ठिवर्जितम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda khanda: raktapitta-cikitsā and śodhana rules; Agni Purana dravya-yoga entries for ṣaḍaṅga preparations
FAQs
It gives Ayurvedic śodhana indications: choose vamana or virecana according to whether the morbid condition is moving downward or upward, and prescribes a ṣaḍaṅga-pāna (six-ingredient drink) for raktapitta with śuṇṭhī omitted.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves applied medical protocols—clinical decision rules (gati-based choice of emesis/purgation) and formulation guidance—showing it functions as a compendium of practical sciences including Ayurveda.
By advocating purificatory therapies and regulated medicinal intake, the verse aligns bodily purification with the broader purāṇic ideal of śuddhi (cleansing), supporting health as a foundation for dharma, worship, and disciplined living.