Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 11
Chapter 288 — अश्वचिकित्सा
Aśva-cikitsā) | Horse-Medicine (Śālihotra to Suśruta
अश्वमेधे तु तुरगः पवित्रत्वात्तु हूयते वृषो निम्बवृहत्यौ च गुडूची च समाक्षिका
aśvamedhe tu turagaḥ pavitratvāttu hūyate vṛṣo nimbavṛhatyau ca guḍūcī ca samākṣikā
ในพิธีอัศวเมธ ม้าถูกบูชาในไฟเพราะมีคุณแห่งความชำระให้บริสุทธิ์ เช่นเดียวกับโคเพศผู้ และยังมีสะเดา (นิมพะ) พฤหตี กุฑูจี และเครื่องประกอบที่มีน้ำผึ้งร่วมด้วย ใช้เป็นเครื่องบูชา (หวิส)
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Yajña-vidhi / Mantra","practical_application":"Ritual procedure and sacrificial materia: items offered in Aśvamedha and related offerings, emphasizing purification intent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aśvamedha-homa dravya: horse, bull, neem, bṛhatī, guḍūcī, honey-associated offering","lookup_keywords":["aśvamedha","homa-dravya","nimbā","bṛhatī","guḍūcī"],"quick_summary":"The verse lists sacrificial offerings connected with Aśvamedha, framing the horse (and bull) as purifying, alongside specific medicinal plants and honey-associated substances used as oblations."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Yajña as purifier: offerings symbolize and effect ritual cleansing and royal legitimacy.
Application: Follow correct dravya selection and intent (pavitrत्व) in fire-offerings to align rite with its purificatory goal.
Khanda Section: Ritual & Sacrificial Procedure (Yajña-vidhi / Agneya-vidyā)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grand Aśvamedha fire-altar with priests performing homa; symbolic depiction of horse and bull as sacrificial representatives; offerings of neem leaves, bṛhatī plant, guḍūcī vine, and honey poured into flames.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: blazing yajña-kuṇḍa, ṛtviks in white with sacred threads, stylized horse and bull motifs near the altar; neem and guḍūcī rendered as iconic plants; warm reds and ochres.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central fire-altar with gold-highlighted flames; priests offering ladles; decorative gold around horse emblem and honey pot; rich temple-like setting.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional composition showing labeled dravyas—nimba, bṛhatī, guḍūcī, madhu—beside the homa; precise linework and calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: royal-sponsored sacrifice scene with detailed pavilion, priests, attendants holding plant bundles and honey vessel; naturalistic flora and controlled flame depiction."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"solemn","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पवित्रत्वात्तु = पवित्रत्वात् + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana yajña-vidhi sections (general); Agni Purana 288 (Agneya-vidyā context)
FAQs
It specifies sanctioned Aśvamedha offerings—animal oblations (horse, bull) and purificatory plant-dravya (neem, bṛhatī, guḍūcī) including honey-mixtures—indicating what may be consigned to the sacred fire for ritual purification.
It blends śrauta-style yajña procedure with a catalog-like mention of medicinal botanicals (nimba, bṛhatī, guḍūcī, honey), showing how the Agni Purana cross-references ritual orthopraxy with Ayurveda-oriented materia medica.
The verse frames these offerings as inherently purifying (pavitra), implying that correct oblation of such prescribed substances in the Aśvamedha is a means of ritual cleansing and merit (puṇya) through conformity to sacred injunction.