Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 15
Chapter 291 — Śāntyāyurveda
Ayurveda for Pacificatory Rites): Go-śānti, Penance-Regimens, and Therapeutics (incl. Veterinary Care
गावः प्रतिष्ठा भूतानां गावः स्वस्त्ययनं परं अन्नमेव परं गावो देवानां हविरुत्तमम्
gāvaḥ pratiṣṭhā bhūtānāṃ gāvaḥ svastyayanaṃ paraṃ annameva paraṃ gāvo devānāṃ haviruttamam
பசுக்கள் எல்லா உயிர்களுக்கும் ஆதாரம்; பசுக்களே உன்னத நலமும் மங்களமும் தரும் வழி. பசுக்களே உண்மையில் உயர்ந்த அன்னம்; தேவர்களுக்கு பசுவே சிறந்த ஹவிஸ் (யாக நிவேதனம்).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethical and socio-economic framing of go-seva and go-dana: cows as sustenance, auspiciousness, and yajna-support.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Go-mahatmya—cow as pratistha, svastyayana, anna, and havis","lookup_keywords":["go-mahatmya","pratistha","svastyayana","anna","havis"],"quick_summary":"The cow is defined as the support of beings, the highest auspicious welfare, the essence of food, and the best oblation for gods—linking household economy with ritual dharma."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Alamkara Type: Anaphora (repetition)
Concept: Interdependence: the cow symbolizes the material basis of life (anna) and the ritual link to the divine (havis), integrating loka and yajna.
Application: Support cattle care, ethical dairy, and yajna-related charity; cultivate gratitude toward sources of sustenance.
Khanda Section: Dāna-dharma & Go-sevā (Charity, merit, and sanctity of cows)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: shraddha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau: cows at the center as ‘foundation’, householders receiving milk and ghee, and a yajna fire receiving ghee as havis—showing cow as bridge between livelihood and ritual.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central sacred cow with attendants, left: household nourishment scene with milk and curd pots, right: homa with ghee offering, bold outlines and symbolic labels via gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly adorned cow with gold-leaf ornaments, priests offering ghee into fire, devotees holding anna, strong auspicious symmetry and temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional composition: cow-products arranged (milk, curd, ghee), a small homa-kunda with havis, calm householders; fine detailing and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet devotional rural scene: cattle, dairy preparation, and a small yajna pavilion; meticulous vessels and flames, balanced narrative panels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अन्नम्+एव→अन्नमेव; हविः+उत्तमम्→हविरुत्तमम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana dana-dharma chapters on go-dana phala; Agni Purana yajna/homa sections on havis and ghrita
FAQs
It teaches the ritual valuation of the cow as ‘havis-uttama’—the most excellent sacrificial offering—supporting practices like go-dāna (gift of cows) and go-sevā as merit-producing acts within dāna-dharma.
Alongside temple rites, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also systematizes social-religious ethics: this verse is a compact doctrinal statement linking livelihood (anna), welfare (svasti), and yajña economy (havis) to a single dharmic symbol—cows.
By declaring cows as the basis of beings and supreme auspiciousness, it frames reverence and generosity toward cows as a high-puṇya act that supports welfare, purification, and favorable karmic outcomes.