Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 42
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
अर्धार्धाभ्यधिकाः सर्वाः पूर्वपूर्वाञ्जलेर्मताः अर्धाञ्जलिश् च शुक्रस्य तदर्धञ्च ततौजसः
ardhārdhābhyadhikāḥ sarvāḥ pūrvapūrvāñjalermatāḥ ardhāñjaliś ca śukrasya tadardhañca tataujasaḥ
पूर्वोक्ताः सर्वाः मात्राः पूर्वपूर्वाञ्जलेरर्धार्धाभ्यधिकाः स्मृताः। शुक्रस्यार्धाञ्जलिः प्रोक्ता, तदर्धं तु ततोऽोजसः।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Establishes a proportional scale of bodily measures and highlights śukra and ojas quantities—useful for teaching vitality assessment and the hierarchy from dhātu to ojas in rasāyana thinking.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Incremental añjali measures; Śukra and Ojas pramāṇa","lookup_keywords":["śukra","ojas","añjali","pramāṇa","rasāyana"],"quick_summary":"States that successive bodily measures increase by a fixed fractional increment, and specifies śukra as half an añjali and ojas as half of that, underscoring ojas as subtle and precious."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Ojas is subtle, limited, and foundational; vitality depends on conserving and refining essence rather than merely accumulating gross quantity.
Application: Live with conservation of essence: balanced routine, ethical restraint, and nourishing habits as a practical sādhanā for resilience and clarity.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Rasayana, Virya-pramana, and Shukra-Ojas assessment)
Primary Rasa: jijnasa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A proportional scale diagram showing descending subtlety: gross measures leading to śukra (half añjali) and ojas (quarter añjali), depicted as a small radiant drop at the center of the heart region.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with a stylized human figure; a measuring ladder of añjali units along the side; śukra shown as a white luminous vessel, ojas as a tiny golden droplet glowing at the chest; bold sacred aesthetics.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with embossed gold 'ojas' droplet at the heart, surrounded by ornate lotuses; a small panel shows śukra measure; rich gold work emphasizing preciousness of ojas.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore didactic painting: clean measurement chart with fractions; anatomical silhouette with highlighted reproductive essence and heart-ojas point; fine lines and clear labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a physician explaining a proportional chart to a patron; on the chart, śukra and ojas marked with fractional measures; subtle glow painted around the ojas symbol."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्धार्धाभ्यधिकाः = अर्ध + अर्ध + अभ्यधिकाः; पूर्वपूर्वाञ्जलेर्मताः = पूर्वपूर्वाञ्जलेः + मताः; अर्धाञ्जलिश् = अर्धाञ्जलिः (visarga before च); तदर्धञ्च = तदर्धम् + च; ततौजसः = तत् + ओजसः (त्+ओ→तो).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369.41 (fluid measures); Agni Purana Ayurveda khanda on rasāyana and dhātu-pariṇāma
FAQs
It gives Ayurvedic pramāṇa (quantitative assessment) for vital essences: śukra is measured as half an añjali, and ojas as half of that, using the añjali hand-measure.
By preserving clinical-style physiological quantification (units and comparative measures) alongside religious material, it shows the Agni Purana compiling practical Ayurvedic knowledge within a Purāṇic framework.
Ojas is classically linked with vitality, clarity, and spiritual stamina; knowing its measure underscores the Purāṇic ideal that bodily discipline and health-supporting knowledge aid dharma and sustained religious practice.