Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 1
Daṣṭa-cikitsā (Treatment for Bites) — Mantra-Dhyāna-Auṣadha Protocols for Viṣa
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे नागलक्षणदिर्नाम त्रिनवत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ चतुर्नवत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः दष्टचिकित्सा अग्निर् उवाच मन्त्रध्यानौषधैर् दष्टचिकित्सां प्रवदामि ते ॐ नमो भगवते नीलकण्ठायेति जपनाद्विषहानिः स्यदौषधं जीवरक्षणं
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe nāgalakṣaṇadirnāma trinavatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha caturnavatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ daṣṭacikitsā agnir uvāca mantradhyānauṣadhair daṣṭacikitsāṃ pravadāmi te oṃ namo bhagavate nīlakaṇṭhāyeti japanādviṣahāniḥ syadauṣadhaṃ jīvarakṣaṇaṃ
Sa gayon, sa Agni Mahāpurāṇa nagtatapos ang ika-294 na kabanata na tinatawag na “Mga Katangian ng mga Nāga (ahas).” Ngayon ay nagsisimula ang ika-295 na kabanata: “Paggamot sa Kagat.” Sinabi ni Agni: “Sa pamamagitan ng mga mantra, pagninilay, at mga gamot, ituturo ko sa iyo ang lunas sa kagat ng ahas. Sa pag-uulit ng japa na ‘Oṃ, pagyukod sa Mapalad na Panginoong Nīlakaṇṭha,’ humihina ang bisa ng lason; ito’y nagiging gamot para sa pag-iingat ng buhay.”
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Emergency management of snakebite using a combined protocol of japa (mantra), dhyāna (focused visualization), and auṣadha (medicine) to reduce viṣa-vega and preserve life.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Daṣṭa-cikitsā: Nīlakaṇṭha-japa for viṣa-śamana","lookup_keywords":["daṣṭacikitsā","sarpa-viṣa","nīlakaṇṭha mantra","japa","viṣa-hāni"],"quick_summary":"Snakebite treatment is taught as a triad—mantra, meditation, and medicine. Repetition of “Oṃ namo bhagavate Nīlakaṇṭhāya” is stated to diminish poison and protect life."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Mantra-dhyāna as a practical upāya that works alongside dravya-cikitsā in viṣa emergencies.
Application: Integrate mental steadiness and sacred sound (japa) with medical intervention to counter fear, stabilize prāṇa, and support viṣa-śamana.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Visha-chikitsa / Snakebite Medicine) within Agneya-vidya (Encyclopedic Instruction)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Agni instructs a disciple on snakebite treatment; a patient lies nearby while the healer performs japa to Nīlakaṇṭha with focused meditation, suggesting a combined spiritual-medical response to poison.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Agni as radiant sage-teacher beside a snakebite patient, healer chanting ‘Oṃ namo bhagavate Nīlakaṇṭhāya’, subtle depiction of Śiva Nīlakaṇṭha as protective presence, rich earthy reds and greens, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central medallion of Śiva Nīlakaṇṭha with gold halo and ornate jewelry, foreground vignette of healer doing japa over a snakebite victim, gold leaf highlights on ornaments and borders, devotional protective mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene: Agni teaching mantra-japa and dhyāna steps to a student, patient on cot, labeled mantra text panel, delicate lines and soft colors, emphasis on procedure and calm focus.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly physician-sage reciting mantra beside a bitten traveler, detailed flora with a serpent in margin, fine textiles, subdued palette, emphasis on narrative realism with spiritual undertone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"protective","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity āgneye → iti āgneye; 'dviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ' → dviśatatamaḥ adhyāyaḥ; agnir uvāca → agniḥ uvāca; mantradhyānauṣadhair → mantra-dhyāna-auṣadhaiḥ; nīlakaṇṭhāyeti → nīlakaṇṭhāya iti; japanādviṣahāniḥ → japanāt viṣahāniḥ; syadauṣadham → syāt auṣadham.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Nāga-lakṣaṇa (preceding chapter); Agni Purana: Viṣa-cikitsā/Daṣṭa-cikitsā section (current chapter continuation)
FAQs
It introduces viṣa-cikitsā (poison/snakebite therapy) combining three modalities—mantra (japa), dhyāna (focused meditation), and auṣadha (medicine)—and specifies the Nīlakaṇṭha mantra as a means to lessen venom’s effects.
By moving from zoological identification (nāga-lakṣaṇa) directly into clinical management (daṣṭa-cikitsā), it demonstrates the Purāṇa’s compendium style—bridging natural knowledge, practical medicine, and ritual technology in one continuous instructional sequence.
Invoking Nīlakaṇṭha (Śiva, famed for neutralizing poison) sacralizes healing: the remedy is not only pharmacological but also devotional, presenting life-preservation as supported by mantra-powered purification and divine protection.