Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 28
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
सूक्ष्मैः सह चतुःषष्ठिर्दशना विंशतिर्नखाः पाणिपादशलाकाश् च तासां स्थानचतुष्टयं
sūkṣmaiḥ saha catuḥṣaṣṭhirdaśanā viṃśatirnakhāḥ pāṇipādaśalākāś ca tāsāṃ sthānacatuṣṭayaṃ
باریک دانتوں سمیت دانت چونسٹھ ہیں؛ ناخن بیس ہیں؛ اور ہاتھ پاؤں کی ڈنڈے جیسی انگلیاں بھی ہیں—ان کے مقامات چار حصّوں میں تقسیم مانے گئے ہیں۔
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vashistha, in the encyclopedic discourse style of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Sharira-rachana (anatomy) memorization for vaidya training; baseline counts used in diagnosis, surgery, and marma-awareness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Danta–Nakha–Anguli-sankhya (Counts of teeth, nails, digits)","lookup_keywords":["danta","nakha","anguli","sharira-rachana","sankhya"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates standard bodily counts—teeth, nails, and digit-segments—serving as a mnemonic anatomical checklist for students of Ayurveda."}
Concept: Sharira as knowable, countable structure; knowledge through systematic enumeration (sankhya) for applied healing.
Application: Supports clinical observation and teaching by fixed lists (anga-pratyanga sankhya).
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Sharira-rachana / Anatomy and enumeration of bodily parts)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teaching scene where an acharya points to a schematic human figure, labeling teeth, nails, and hand/foot digits in four sets (hands and feet).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ochre-red background, a seated Ayurveda acharya with palm-leaf manuscript, stylized human figure diagram showing teeth, nails, fingers and toes grouped in four sets, clean linework, traditional ornaments, minimal shading.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on the acharya’s halo and manuscript, frontal seated teacher, simplified anatomical chart beside him highlighting teeth and nails, rich reds and greens, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate lines and soft washes, instructional anatomical plate with labeled teeth and nails, acharya demonstrating with a pointer, calm classroom ambience.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing, a small medical lesson in a courtly library, physician-teacher showing a folio with teeth/nail/digit counts, muted palette, intricate textiles and margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुःषष्ठिः + दशनाः → चतुःषष्ठिर्दशनाः; विंशतिः + नखाः → विंशतिर्नखाः; शलाकाः + च → शलाकाश् च (visarga before ca).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 369 (Sharira-rachana section); Agni Purana marma/anga-pratyanga related passages (within Ayurveda khanda)
FAQs
Ayurvedic śārīra-vidyā: a technical enumeration of bodily parts—counts of teeth, nails, and the distribution of hand/foot digits—used in classical anatomical description.
It shows the Purana functioning as a compendium beyond myth—preserving medical/anatomical schemata (śārīra-saṅkhyā) alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences.
By cataloging the body with precision, the text supports disciplined self-knowledge (deha-bodha) that underpins purity practices and mindful conduct, reinforcing dharmic living through awareness of embodiment.