Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 9

Bala-graha-hara Bāla-tantram (बालग्रहहर बालतन्त्रम्) — Pediatric protection and graha-affliction management

Devanagari script

गजदन्ताहिनिर्मोकवाजिमूत्रप्रलेपनं सराजीनिम्बपत्रेण धूतकेशेन छूपयेत्

Transliteration

gajadantāhinirmokavājimūtrapralepanaṃ sarājīnimbapatreṇa dhūtakeśena chūpayet

Translation

Dapat ipahid bilang panlabas na pahid ang halong gawa sa garing ng elepante, balat ng ahas na nalaglag, at ihi ng kabayo; at gamit ang mga dahon ng neem na may guhit-guhit at buhok na nahugasan at nalinis, isagawa ang itinakdang pag-uusok/paglalapat na ritwal (chūpayet).

Word by Word

• गजदन्ताहिनिर्मोकवाजिमूत्रप्रलेपनम्: a plaster/anointment made of elephant tusk, snake-skin (slough), and horse urine
• गजदन्ताहिनिर्मोकवाजिमूत्रप्रलेपनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज-दन्त + अहि-निर्मोक + वाजि-मूत्र + प्रलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• स: he/that (person)
• स: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• राजी-निम्ब-पत्रेण: with a striped neem leaf
• राजी-निम्ब-पत्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजी + निम्ब + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• धूत-केशेन: by/with (one) having washed hair
• धूत-केशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूत (धू धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘धूताः केशाः यस्य’/‘धूतकेशः’ (washed-haired)

• छूपयेत्: should fumigate/should apply (as a ritual act)
• छूपयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छूप्/छुप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"External lepa (plaster) and ritualized dhūpana/chūpana for protective/curative purposes, especially in graha/āgantuka contexts.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Lepa with gajadanta–ahinirmoka–vājimūtra and nimbapatra chūpana","lookup_keywords":["gajadanta","ahinirmoka","vājimūtra","nimbapatra","lepa-dhūpana"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes an external plaster using elephant-ivory, snake-slough, and horse-urine, followed by a neem-leaf and cleansed-hair based chūpana (fumigation/ritual application) for protection/relief in occult-affliction style therapeutics."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āgantuka/adr̥ṣṭa-affliction can be addressed through dravya (substance) + kriyā (rite) combined therapy.

Application: Integrate external pharmaco-ritual measures when symptoms are framed as graha/bhūta influence, alongside ordinary care.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Bhaiṣajya (Medicinal remedies and therapeutic procedures)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A healer prepares a dark plaster from powdered ivory and snake-slough, mixes it with horse-urine, then performs fumigation/ritual application using variegated neem leaves and cleansed hair as ritual implements.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, a vaidya in traditional attire grinding substances on a stone slab, neem leaves with streaks held near a small fumigation brazier, ritual protective ambience, flat iconic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate gold leaf borders, central seated vaidya with medicine bowl, stylized neem leaves and a small dhūpa vessel, rich textiles, devotional-protective mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional layout showing ingredients (ivory powder, snake slough, horse urine, neem leaves) and the step of applying lepa and performing chūpana, muted palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed apothecary scene with labeled jars, a practitioner applying plaster to a patient, attendants holding neem leaves near incense smoke, intricate textiles and naturalistic shading"}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: गजदन्ताहिनिर्मोकवाजिमूत्रप्रलेपनम् = गजदन्त + अहिनिर्मोक + वाजिमूत्र + प्रलेपनम् (समास-समाहार). छूपयेत् is treated as a single verb form; orthography varies in manuscripts (छूप/छुप).

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 298 (Bhūta-vidyā/Bhaiṣajya prayoga context)

Characters & Entities

• Agni Purana
• Nimba (Neem)
• Gajadanta (Elephant tusk/ivory)
• Ahinirmoka (Snake slough)
• Vāji-mūtra (Horse urine)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It gives a technical recipe for an external medicinal plaster (pralepana/lepa) using specific substances (elephant ivory, snake slough, horse urine) along with a prescribed mode of application involving neem leaves and a cleansing-related implement (washed hair), implying a therapeutic-ritual procedure.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

By cataloging practical materia medica and procedural techniques (external plasters, plant-based implements like neem leaves, and specialized application verbs), it demonstrates the text’s wide scope beyond theology—preserving applied medical and ritual-therapeutic knowledge.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Such prescribed applications combine healing with ritual correctness: purification (dhūta—cleansed) and regulated procedure are treated as supporting bodily well-being while maintaining ritual purity, aligning therapy with dharmic conduct.