Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 12
Chapter 340 — नृत्यादावङ्गकर्मनिरूपणम्
Explanation of Bodily Actions in Dance and Performance
षोटौष्ठकर्मकं पापं सप्तधा चिवुकक्रिया कलुषादिमुखं षोढा ग्रीवा नवविधा स्मृता
ṣoṭauṣṭhakarmakaṃ pāpaṃ saptadhā civukakriyā kaluṣādimukhaṃ ṣoḍhā grīvā navavidhā smṛtā
ఓష్ఠములకు సంబంధించిన పాపరూప వికృతులు పదహారు విధములని చెప్పబడినవి; చివుక (చెంప/చెన్ను—గడ్డం) క్రియ/వికారము ఏడు విధములు. ‘కలుష’ మొదలైన ముఖ/ముఖమండల దోషములు పదహారు విధములు; గ్రీవ (మెడ) దోషములు తొమ్మిది విధములని స్మృతము.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Clinical observation and roga-nidāna support: enumerating congenital/acquired deformities of lips, chin, mouth/face, and neck for diagnosis and prognosis.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Oṣṭha, Civuka, Mukha, Grīvā-doṣa bheda (16/7/16/9)","lookup_keywords":["oṣṭha-doṣa","civuka-doṣa","mukha-doṣa","grīvā-doṣa","kaluṣa-mukha"],"quick_summary":"Lists standard counts of defects/deformities of lips (16), chin (7), mouth/face (16, beginning with ‘kaluṣa’), and neck (9), serving as a diagnostic catalogue for bodily lakṣaṇa assessment."}
Concept: The body is read through lakṣaṇas; enumerated ‘doṣa-bhedas’ create a shared diagnostic language for physicians and assessors.
Application: In examination, record observed features under the four regions (oṣṭha/civuka/mukha/grīvā) to standardize case notes and compare progression over time.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Roga-nidana / Sharira-lakshana: diagnostic classification of bodily defects)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A physician examines a patient’s lips, chin, face complexion (kaluṣa), and neck; beside them a palm-leaf list shows the counts 16/7/16/9 as a diagnostic catalogue.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, vaidya with herbal satchel examining mukha and grīvā, stylized close-up faces showing different doṣas, palm-leaf manuscript with numerals, earthy palette and bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, clinic-like scene with vaidya and patient, gold borders and ornaments, emphasis on facial features and neck, manuscript panel listing oṣṭha/civuka/mukha/grīvā bhedas","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional medical illustration: four head-and-neck regions with labeled defect categories, gentle colors, precise lines, didactic layout","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, hakim/vaidya consultation in a chamber, detailed rendering of faces and neck posture, assistant holding a diagnostic scroll, fine textile patterns"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: षोटौष्ठकर्मकं read as षोडश-ओष्ठ-कर्मकम् (orthographic contraction in transmission).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 340 (śarīra-lakṣaṇa and roga-nidāna style enumerations)
FAQs
Ayurvedic-style diagnostic taxonomy: it enumerates how many categories of defects are recognized for lips (16), chin (7), mouth/face (16), and neck (9), serving as a framework for clinical/physiognomic assessment.
It shows the Purana functioning like a compendium by preserving medical/diagnostic classifications (roga-nidana and bodily-lakṣaṇa) alongside religious material—typical of the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging, shastra-like coverage.
By calling these deformities “pāpa” (sin-linked/inauspicious), the verse frames certain bodily defects as karmic outcomes, encouraging ethical conduct and remedial/purificatory approaches consistent with dharma.