Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 13
Chapter 363: नृब्रह्मक्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
Groups of terms for Men, Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
वुक्काग्रमांसं हृदयं हन्मेदस्तु वपा वसा पश्चाद्ग्रीवा शिरा मन्या नाडी तु धमनिः शिरा
vukkāgramāṃsaṃ hṛdayaṃ hanmedastu vapā vasā paścādgrīvā śirā manyā nāḍī tu dhamaniḥ śirā
เนื้อที่ปลายไตเรียกว่า ‘วุกกากฺร-มางสะ’; หัวใจคือ ‘หฤทยะ’; ไขมันบริเวณขากรรไกรคือ ‘หัน-เมทัส’; โอเมนตัมคือ ‘วปา’; ไขมันคือ ‘วสา’; หลังคอคือ ‘ปัศจาด-ครีวา’; หลอดเลือดดำคือ ‘ศิรา’; ต้นคอ/ด้านข้างคอคือ ‘มันยา’; ทางเดินเป็นท่อคือ ‘นาดี’; และหลอดเลือดแดงคือ ‘ธมนี’ ซึ่งต่างจาก ‘ศิรา’.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Anatomical nomenclature for dissection/surgical and diagnostic communication—distinguishing tissues (fat/omentum) and channels (nāḍī, śirā, dhamanī).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Śarīra-saṃjñā: hṛdaya, vapā/vasā, śirā–dhamanī–nāḍī distinctions","lookup_keywords":["hṛdaya","vapā","vasā","śirā","dhamanī"],"quick_summary":"Provides precise anatomical terms and differentiates bodily conduits (vein/artery/channel), aiding surgical description and pathology localization."}
Concept: Body as knowable structure (śarīra-jñāna) enabling effective action (cikitsā/śalya).
Application: Use standardized anatomy terms for teaching, surgery, and medico-legal clarity.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Sharira (Anatomical Nomenclature and Butchery/Dissection Terminology)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An anatomical teaching plate: heart, omentum/fat layers, neck regions (manyā, paścād-grīvā), and a diagram contrasting śirā vs dhamanī vs nāḍī.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural aesthetic applied to anatomy: stylized human figure with highlighted heart and abdominal fat fold (vapā), neck labeled manyā, decorative flat colors, manuscript-like labels in Devanagari.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central seated teacher with a gilded anatomical chart, gold outlining heart and vessels, rich background, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine instructional diagram with clear labels for śirā/dhamanī/nāḍī, cross-sectional abdomen showing vapā and vasā, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician demonstrating anatomy to students with a detailed illustrated folio, delicate vessel network drawn in red/blue, interior study setting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वुक्काग्रमांसं = वुक्का + अग्रमांसम्; हन्मेदस्तु = हन् + मेदः + तु; पश्चाद्ग्रीवा = पश्चात् + ग्रीवा.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 363 (śarīra and roga-saṃjñā lists)
FAQs
This verse imparts Ayurvedic–Śārīra technical nomenclature: precise labels for tissues and vessels (vapā, vasā, śirā, dhamanī, nāḍī) and neck/jaw anatomical regions, useful for diagnosis, surgery, and anatomical description.
By cataloging specialized anatomical terms—especially differentiating ducts (nāḍī), veins (śirā), and arteries (dhamanī)—the Agni Purana functions as a compendium that preserves medical-scientific vocabulary alongside its ritual and theological materials.
While primarily technical, the instruction supports dharmic living by enabling correct medical understanding and treatment of the body—viewed as a vehicle for sādhana—thereby indirectly aiding purity, health, and the performance of religious duties.