Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 4
Chapter 291 — Śāntyāyurveda
Ayurveda for Pacificatory Rites): Go-śānti, Penance-Regimens, and Therapeutics (incl. Veterinary Care
रोचना विषरक्षोघ्नी ग्रासदः स्वर्गगो गवां यद्गृहे दुःखिता गावः स याति नरकन्नरः
rocanā viṣarakṣoghnī grāsadaḥ svargago gavāṃ yadgṛhe duḥkhitā gāvaḥ sa yāti narakannaraḥ
రోచనా విషాన్ని నశింపజేస్తుంది, హానికర రాక్షససమూహాన్ని తొలగిస్తుంది; గోవులకు మేత ఇచ్చేవాడు స్వర్గాన్ని పొందుతాడు. అయితే ఎవరి ఇంట గోవులు దుఃఖంగా ఉంటాయో ఆ మనిషి నరకానికి వెళ్తాడు.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purana’s primary narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Ethical injunctions on cow-care (feeding, preventing distress) and a protective use-claim for rocanā against poison and harmful entities.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Rocanā as viṣa-rakṣā and gau-sevā phala (svarga/naraka)","lookup_keywords":["rochana","visha-raksha","go-grasa","svarga","naraka"],"quick_summary":"Rocanā is credited with countering poison and malevolent influences; feeding cows yields heavenly merit, while keeping cows distressed at home is condemned as a cause of hellish consequence."}
Concept: Ahimsā and responsibility: merit accrues by nourishing cows; neglect causing distress is adharma with grave karmic result.
Application: Ensure adequate fodder, water, shade, and veterinary attention; treat animal welfare as a binding household duty.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Danadharma (Ethics of livelihood, gifts, and righteous conduct)
Primary Rasa: dharma
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder offering fodder to cows (go-grāsa-dāna) with a radiant path upward symbolizing svarga; contrasting vignette of neglected, distressed cows at a house gate indicating naraka warning; rocanā shown as a yellow protective mark/substance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel moral tableau: left—devotee feeding cows with serene aura; right—distressed cows near a darkened house, admonitory tone; rocanā as bright yellow protective smear in the devotee’s hand.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central cow with ornate gold accents, householder offering fodder, celestial attendants above indicating svarga, rocanā highlighted in gold-yellow, moral clarity and auspicious framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, narrative clarity with labeled actions: ‘go-grāsa’ offering, ‘duḥkhitā gāvaḥ’ neglect scene, rocanā depicted as a small yellow container used for protection.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard with cows being fed, subtle allegorical clouds showing heavenward ascent; contrasting shadowed corner with neglected cows; refined facial expressions conveying compassion vs neglect."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Dhanyasi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विषरक्षोघ्नी = विष + रक्षः + घ्नी; यद्गृहे = यत् + गृहे; नरकन्नरः = नरकम् + नरः (anusvāra/nn sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Go-dāna merits; Agni Purana: Prāyaścitta/śauca on cow-products
FAQs
It teaches go-sevā as a dharmic practice: feeding cows (grāsa-dāna) is meritorious, and it notes rocana/gorocanā as a traditionally protective substance used against poison and malignant influences.
It blends ethical governance/householder duty (rajadharma and dāna) with applied traditional knowledge about protective substances (gorocanā), showing how the text spans both moral law and practical culture.
Supporting cows brings svarga (favorable post-mortem destiny), while neglect that causes their suffering is framed as a serious demerit leading to naraka—highlighting accountability for cruelty and neglect.