Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 31
Chapter 365 — क्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
The Classes of Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
कूर्चिका क्षिरविकृतिः स्निग्धं मसृणचिक्कणं पृथुकः स्याच्चिपिटको धाना भ्रष्टयवास्त्रियः
kūrcikā kṣiravikṛtiḥ snigdhaṃ masṛṇacikkaṇaṃ pṛthukaḥ syāccipiṭako dhānā bhraṣṭayavāstriyaḥ
కూర్చికా అనేది క్షీరవికృతి, అంటే పాలతో తయారైన పదార్థం; అది స్నిగ్ధం, మసృణం, చిక్కణం (మృదువుగా మెరుస్తూ) అని చెప్పబడుతుంది. పృథుకం చప్పటి ధాన్యం; అలాగే చిపిటక, ధానా, మరియు మూడుసార్లు వేయించిన యవకణాలు (భ్రష్ట-యవ) కూడా (పదాలు).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Dietetic identification of milk-products and grain-preparations for planning pathya/apathya foods and household nutrition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Kūrcikā and grain-preparations (pṛthuka, cipiṭaka, dhānā, bhraṣṭa-yava)","lookup_keywords":["kūrcikā","kṣīra-vikṛti","pṛthuka","dhānā","bhraṣṭa-yava"],"quick_summary":"Defines kūrcikā as a milk-derivative characterized by snigdha/masṛṇa (unctuous, smooth) qualities, and lists common processed grains like pṛthuka and roasted barley for dietary use."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Ahāra as classified by dravya and guṇa (snigdha/masṛṇa) rather than by taste alone.
Application: Choose foods by processing-form and qualities (guṇa) to match digestion and season.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Ahara-vidhi (Food science and dietetics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A domestic dairy-and-grain preparation scene: milk being processed into kūrcikā; flattened grains (pṛthuka) and roasted barley displayed in bowls with labels.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural palette, stylized kitchen courtyard, women churning and setting milk into kūrcikā, banana-leaf trays with pṛthuka and roasted barley, flat decorative borders, earthy reds and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central still-life of brass vessels with milk preparation kūrcikā, ornate gold-leaf highlights on bowls of pṛthuka and bhraṣṭa-yava, rich maroon background, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional layout with neatly arranged labeled food items—kūrcikā, pṛthuka, cipiṭaka, dhānā, roasted barley—fine linework, soft shading, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed pantry scene with attendants preparing milk-derivative and presenting flattened grains in porcelain dishes, fine textiles, naturalistic grains, delicate borders and calligraphic labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhoopali","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्याच्चिपिटको = स्यात् + चिपिटकः (त् + च → च्च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 365 (Ahāra-vidhi / dravya-nāma-saṅgraha)
FAQs
Ayurvedic ahāra-vidyā: it defines specific food preparations—milk derivatives (kūrcikā) and parched/flattened grains (pṛthuka, cipiṭaka, dhānā, bhraṣṭa-yava)—and notes their key quality as snigdha (unctuous/nourishing).
It functions like a technical glossary of dietetics, cataloging named food items and their guṇa (qualities), showing the Purana’s coverage beyond mythology into practical Ayurveda and everyday nutrition science.
By guiding proper, sāttvika-compatible nourishment through classified foods and qualities, it supports bodily purity and steadiness—considered conducive to dharma, worship, and disciplined living.