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
பத்ரா முதலிய இனக் குதிரைகளுக்கு மதிய வேளையில் சவாரி செய்பவர் மெல்லிய மாந்தம் (கஞ்சி/நீர்க்கஞ்சி) அளிக்க வேண்டும். மந்தமான தோற்றம், உற்சாகக் குறைவு, பசி—இவை குதிரையின் (பலவீன) நிலையின் அறிகுறிகள்।
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.