Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 31
Chapter 338 — शृङ्गारादिरसनिरूपणम्
Exposition of the Rasas beginning with Śṛṅgāra
चित्तेन्द्रियाणां स्तैमित्यमपस्मारो ऽचला स्थितिः युद्धे बाधादिभीस्त्रासो वीप्सा चित्तचमत्कृतिः
cittendriyāṇāṃ staimityamapasmāro 'calā sthitiḥ yuddhe bādhādibhīstrāso vīpsā cittacamatkṛtiḥ
చిత్త‑ఇంద్రియాల స్థైమిత్యం, అపస్మారం, అచల జడస్థితి; యుద్ధంలో బాధలవల్ల భయం; పునఃపునః విరక్తి; మరియు చిత్తవిస్మయం—ఇవి లక్షణాలుగా పేర్కొనబడ్డాయి।
Lord Agni (narrating the encyclopedic teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Roga-nidāna style listing of neuro-psychological and affective symptoms (staimitya, apasmāra, acalatā, trāsa, vīpsā, citta-camatkṛti) for diagnosis, including battle-context fear relevant to warrior health.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Manas-indriya vikāras: staimitya, apasmāra, trāsa, vīpsā, camatkṛti","lookup_keywords":["staimitya","apasmāra","trāsa","vīpsā","citta-camatkṛti"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates key mind-sense disturbances: stupor, epilepsy, rigid immobility, battle-fear, repeated revulsion, and astonished bewilderment—useful as diagnostic markers and for situational assessment."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Mind and senses exhibit recognizable patterns under disturbance—fear, stupor, astonishment—indicating a functional model of cognition and affect.
Application: Use symptom-pattern recognition to choose response: protection and rest for staimitya, safety protocols for apasmāra, reassurance and regrouping for trāsa, and removal of aversive stimuli for vīpsā.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Roga-nidana: mental and neurological disorders; diagnostic symptomatology)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A diagnostic montage: a person with dulled senses and rigid posture; another experiencing a seizure; a warrior trembling in battle; a person recoiling repeatedly in revulsion; and a figure frozen in astonished bewilderment while a healer observes.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with narrative band: healer with manuscript; scenes of apasmāra (body arched, attendants supporting), warrior with widened eyes and trembling hands, revulsion shown by turning away, astonishment with raised brows; bold outlines and traditional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold accents: central vaidya and attendants; surrounding medallions depicting each symptom (staimitya, apasmāra, acalatā, trāsa, vīpsā, camatkṛti), ornate borders and icon-like clarity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style educational chart: six panels with precise facial expressions and body postures; minimal background, emphasis on diagnostic observation, fine shading and linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: battlefield edge scene with a trembling soldier being steadied; adjacent indoor scene of physician attending a seizure patient; detailed costumes, realistic expressions, delicate margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"serious","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चित्तेन्द्रियाणाम्→चित्त-इन्द्रियाणाम्; स्तैमित्यमपस्मारः→स्तैमित्यम् अपस्मारः; अपस्मारोऽचला→अपस्मारः अचला; बाधादिभीस्त्रासः→बाधा-आदि-भिः त्रासः
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda-khaṇḍa: apasmāra and manasika-vikāra discussions near this sequence; Agni Purana rājadharma/yuddha-related passages where fear and morale are treated implicitly
FAQs
Ayurvedic roga-nidāna (diagnostics): it enumerates clinical/psychological symptoms such as sensory-motor stupor, apasmāra (epilepsy), immobility, battle-terror, recurrent aversion, and mental bewilderment for identifying a condition.
It shows the Purana functioning as a compendium beyond mythology—preserving Ayurvedic diagnostic vocabulary (mind–sense pathology, neurological disorders, and behavioral signs) alongside other sciences like polity, ritual, and warfare.
By accurately recognizing such afflicted states, one can apply appropriate remedial measures (medical care, disciplined conduct, and sattvic regulation), reducing harm to self and others—supporting dharmic living and purification through right action.