Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 15
Chapter 340 — नृत्यादावङ्गकर्मनिरूपणम्
Explanation of Bodily Actions in Dance and Performance
सूच्यास्यः पद्मकोषो हि शिराः समृगशीर्षकाः कांमूलकालपद्मौ* च चतुरभ्रमरौ तथा
sūcyāsyaḥ padmakoṣo hi śirāḥ samṛgaśīrṣakāḥ kāṃmūlakālapadmau* ca caturabhramarau tathā
Ang kasangkapang tinatawag na Sūcyāsya (“may bibig na parang karayom”) ay may anyong tulad ng usbong ng lotus; ang “ulo” (itaas na bahagi) ay hugis-ulo ng usa. Ang ugat/pundasyon nito ay tulad ng lotus, at inilalarawan ding apat ang bahagi, na may mga likong paikid “na gaya ng bubuyog”.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s usual frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Design/recognition of a Śālākya surgical instrument (netra/śira-related), ensuring correct shape for safe probing/incision and minimizing tissue trauma.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śālākya-śastra-lakṣaṇa: Sūcyāsya-yantra (needle-mouthed instrument)","lookup_keywords":["Sūcyāsya","śālākya-śastra","padmakośa","mṛgaśīrṣa","bhramara"],"quick_summary":"Defines the morphology of the Sūcyāsya instrument—lotus-bud body, deer-head-like tip, lotus-like base, and four bee-like turns—so the practitioner can identify or fabricate it correctly."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (metaphoric form-description)
Concept: Form follows function: śastra-lakṣaṇa ensures efficacy and safety in applied healing arts.
Application: Standardize instrument manufacture and selection before procedures; train by visual analogies for quick recall.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Śālākya-tantra / Netra-roga & Śastra-lakṣaṇa descriptions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A physician-surgeon holds the Sūcyāsya instrument; beside it are comparison motifs: lotus bud, deer head, lotus root/base, and a stylized bee-spiral showing four turns.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, vaidya in traditional attire, instrument enlarged in profile with lotus and deer motifs as visual analogies, earthy reds/ochres, clean outlines, temple-clinic ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central enlarged instrument with gold embossing on the lotus-bud body, small medallions showing deer-head tip and lotus-base, rich decorative frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical plate layout, fine lines and labels for tip, body, base, and four spiral turns, soft colors, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court-physician demonstrating a delicate tool to students, detailed metal sheen, botanical lotus study on the side, precise naturalism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सूच्यास्यः (सूची+आस्यः); पद्मकोषो→पद्मकोषः; समृगशीर्षकाः (स+मृगशीर्षकाः); *चिह्नः पाठटिप्पणी-सूचकः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 340 (Śālākya/śastra-lakṣaṇa subsections)
FAQs
It gives a technical morphological specification (lakṣaṇa) of a fine-tipped surgical/medical instrument—describing its mouth/tip, head, base, and coil/turn structure using standard shape-metaphors (lotus-bud, deer-head, bee-like whorls).
Instead of only theology, it preserves applied scientific-technical knowledge—here, instrument taxonomy and design language used in Ayurvedic surgery/Śālākya practice—showing the Purāṇa’s coverage of practical disciplines.
By standardizing correct instruments and safe technique, the text supports dharmic healing—reducing harm and enabling righteous medical service (vaidya-sevā), which is traditionally treated as meritorious when done ethically.