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
如是，在《阿耆尼摩诃补罗那》中，名为《那伽（蛇类）之相》的第二百九十四章告终。今起第二百九十五章：《咬伤治疗》。阿耆尼言：“以真言、禅观与药物，我将为汝宣说蛇咬之疗法。若持诵‘唵，礼敬圣尊尼罗迦ṇṭha（青喉主）’，则毒力减弱；此即护命之良药。”
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.