Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 34
Adhyaya 223 — Rājadharmāḥ
Royal Duties: Inner Palace Governance, Trivarga Protection, Courtly Conduct, and Aromatic/Hygienic Sciences
एलालवङ्गकक्कोलजातीफलनिशाकराः जातीपत्रिकया सार्धं स्वतन्त्रा मुखवासकाः
elālavaṅgakakkolajātīphalaniśākarāḥ jātīpatrikayā sārdhaṃ svatantrā mukhavāsakāḥ
ஏலக்காய், கிராம்பு, கக்கோலம், ஜாதிக்காய், கற்பூரம், மேலும் ஜாதிப்பத்திரி (ஜாவித்ரி)—இவை ஒவ்வொன்றும் தனித்தனியாகவும் முகவாசம் (வாய் நறுமணம்) அளிக்கத் தகுந்தவை.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Selection of single-ingredient mouth-perfumes (mukhavāsa) for breath freshening and pleasant oral aroma in daily grooming and ritual etiquette.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Mukhavāsa-dravya: Elā–Lavaṅga–Kakkola–Jātīphala–Niśākara–Jātīpatrikā","lookup_keywords":["mukhavāsa","elā","lavaṅga","kakkola","jātīphala","karpūra"],"quick_summary":"Cardamom, clove, kakkola, nutmeg, camphor, and mace can each be used independently as mouth-perfumes for oral fragrance."}
Concept: Śauca and saṃskāra of the body through pleasant speech-breath; grooming as part of cultured conduct.
Application: Adopt mouth-perfume as part of daily regimen before worship, study, or social interaction.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Gandha-dravya & Mukha-vāsa / Oral fragrance preparations)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Shringara
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A small tray of spices—cardamom, clove, kakkola, nutmeg, camphor, mace—presented as individual mouth-perfumes for refined oral fragrance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, still-life of mukhavāsa spices on banana-leaf or brass plate, stylized forms, deep reds and greens, ornamental border motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, jeweled tray with gold leaf accents, neatly arranged cardamom pods, cloves, nutmeg, mace, camphor crystals, devotional domestic setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional depiction with labeled ingredients, delicate shading, emphasis on individual-use concept (svatantrāḥ).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, exquisite botanical-spice rendering on a carpeted surface, small containers, courtly grooming context, fine detail and calligraphy cartouches."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamas","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Large ingredient list treated as a dvandva-compound chain; niśākara here understood as karpūra (camphor) by lexicographic usage.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 223 (Mukha-vāsa)
FAQs
It lists specific aromatic dravyas (cardamom, clove, kakkola, nutmeg, camphor, and mace) that can be used as mukha-vāsa—mouth-perfumes for breath fragrance and oral freshness—either singly or combined.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical Ayurveda-style materia medica and hygiene/fragrance formulations, showing its wide-ranging, handbook-like coverage of daily-life sciences.
Maintaining bodily and oral purity through approved fragrant substances supports śauca (cleanliness) and suitability for mantra-recitation, worship, and social conduct—seen as conducive to ritual propriety and merit.