Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 15
Chapter 291 — Śāntyāyurveda
Ayurveda for Pacificatory Rites): Go-śānti, Penance-Regimens, and Therapeutics (incl. Veterinary Care
गावः प्रतिष्ठा भूतानां गावः स्वस्त्ययनं परं अन्नमेव परं गावो देवानां हविरुत्तमम्
gāvaḥ pratiṣṭhā bhūtānāṃ gāvaḥ svastyayanaṃ paraṃ annameva paraṃ gāvo devānāṃ haviruttamam
โคทั้งหลายเป็นหลักฐานของสรรพสัตว์; โคเป็นหนทางสูงสุดแห่งความผาสุกและสิริมงคล โคคืออาหารอันประเสริฐยิ่ง และสำหรับเหล่าเทพ โคคือหวิส (เครื่องบูชา) อันยอดเยี่ยมที่สุด।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Ethical and socio-economic framing of go-seva and go-dana: cows as sustenance, auspiciousness, and yajna-support.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Go-mahatmya—cow as pratistha, svastyayana, anna, and havis","lookup_keywords":["go-mahatmya","pratistha","svastyayana","anna","havis"],"quick_summary":"The cow is defined as the support of beings, the highest auspicious welfare, the essence of food, and the best oblation for gods—linking household economy with ritual dharma."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Alamkara Type: Anaphora (repetition)
Concept: Interdependence: the cow symbolizes the material basis of life (anna) and the ritual link to the divine (havis), integrating loka and yajna.
Application: Support cattle care, ethical dairy, and yajna-related charity; cultivate gratitude toward sources of sustenance.
Khanda Section: Dāna-dharma & Go-sevā (Charity, merit, and sanctity of cows)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: shraddha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic tableau: cows at the center as ‘foundation’, householders receiving milk and ghee, and a yajna fire receiving ghee as havis—showing cow as bridge between livelihood and ritual.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central sacred cow with attendants, left: household nourishment scene with milk and curd pots, right: homa with ghee offering, bold outlines and symbolic labels via gestures.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly adorned cow with gold-leaf ornaments, priests offering ghee into fire, devotees holding anna, strong auspicious symmetry and temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional composition: cow-products arranged (milk, curd, ghee), a small homa-kunda with havis, calm householders; fine detailing and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet devotional rural scene: cattle, dairy preparation, and a small yajna pavilion; meticulous vessels and flames, balanced narrative panels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अन्नम्+एव→अन्नमेव; हविः+उत्तमम्→हविरुत्तमम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana dana-dharma chapters on go-dana phala; Agni Purana yajna/homa sections on havis and ghrita
FAQs
It teaches the ritual valuation of the cow as ‘havis-uttama’—the most excellent sacrificial offering—supporting practices like go-dāna (gift of cows) and go-sevā as merit-producing acts within dāna-dharma.
Alongside temple rites, polity, and other sciences, the Agni Purāṇa also systematizes social-religious ethics: this verse is a compact doctrinal statement linking livelihood (anna), welfare (svasti), and yajña economy (havis) to a single dharmic symbol—cows.
By declaring cows as the basis of beings and supreme auspiciousness, it frames reverence and generosity toward cows as a high-puṇya act that supports welfare, purification, and favorable karmic outcomes.