Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 21
Chapter 291 — Śāntyāyurveda
Ayurveda for Pacificatory Rites): Go-śānti, Penance-Regimens, and Therapeutics (incl. Veterinary Care
देवब्राह्मणगोसाधुसाध्वीभिः सकलं जगत् धार्यते वै सदा तस्मात् सर्वे पूज्यतमा मताः
devabrāhmaṇagosādhusādhvībhiḥ sakalaṃ jagat dhāryate vai sadā tasmāt sarve pūjyatamā matāḥ
由诸天、婆罗门、牛、圣者（sādhu）与贞洁的圣女（sādhvī）共同护持，整个世界恒常得以维系；因此，他们皆被视为最堪供养礼敬者。
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Ethical hierarchy for daily conduct and governance: honor devas (through worship), brāhmaṇas (through service), cows (through protection), sādhus and sādhvīs (through support and respect).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"World-sustainers worthy of worship (Deva–Brāhmaṇa–Go–Sādhu–Sādhvī)","lookup_keywords":["deva","brahmana","go","sadhu","sadhvi"],"quick_summary":"Identifies five sustaining pillars of the world and concludes they are most worthy of pūjā; it functions as a compact ethical directive for society."}
Alamkara Type: Enumeration (saṅkhyāna) with causal conclusion (hetu)
Concept: Lokasaṅgraha: the world is sustained by spiritual, ethical, and life-supporting exemplars; worship here implies active support and protection.
Application: Translate pūjā into conduct: charity, protection, hospitality, and restraint; create institutions that safeguard cows and support genuine renunciants and virtuous women.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Sadachara (Dharma-shastra / Social Ethics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A composite scene showing the five supports: a deity in shrine, a brāhmaṇa teacher, a cow with calf, a sādhu, and a sādhvī—each receiving respectful offerings, symbolizing world-sustenance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, five-figure sacred tableau: deity niche, brāhmaṇa, cow-calf, sādhu, sādhvī; offerings and lamps; stylized faces, earthy reds and yellows, harmonious composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate devotional assembly with gold leaf: deity panel above, below brāhmaṇa, cow, sādhu, sādhvī receiving honors; rich jewelry-like detailing and auspicious borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear didactic grouping of five revered categories, gentle palette, fine outlines, ritual objects (lamp, water-pot, flowers) indicating pūjā and support","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly patronage scene: ruler and household offering respect to scholar, cow, ascetics; architectural pavilion, delicate flora, narrative realism"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवब्राह्मणगोसाधुसाध्वीभिः = देव + ब्राह्मण + गो + साधु + साध्वी + भिः (द्वन्द्व-समास); जगत् धार्यते (no sandhi change); तस्मात् सर्वे (no sandhi change).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sadācāra and rājadharma sections; Agni Purana: dāna-dharma and pūjā-vidhi sections
FAQs
It teaches a practical dharma-rule of pūjya-nirṇaya (determining who deserves reverence): devas, Brahmins, cows, and the virtuous (sādhus/sādhvīs) are to be honored because they sustain social and spiritual order.
Beyond rituals and theology, the Agni Purāṇa codifies social ethics and normative conduct (sadācāra/rajadharma), identifying key supports of the world and prescribing reverence—showing its broad, law-and-culture scope.
Honoring these pillars of dharma is presented as alignment with world-sustaining order, generating puṇya (merit) and reducing adharma by supporting Vedic learning, sanctity, and communal welfare.