[Agnivesha’s questions on the human anatomy] Agnivesha asked a question to Lord Atreya, for the sake of gaining knowledge on the human body’s organisation into divisions, subdivisions, structures and organs, so that one can understand the number and magnitude of the organs and structures.
[Six layers of skin] Lord Atreya replied, “Agnivesha! As you have asked, I am clearly describing the details of the whole body. You may want to focus on these. To start with, there are six layers of skin, i.e. 1. Udakadhara, the outermost layer, this specially holds water. 2. Second is asragdhara, which holds blood. 3. Third is seat of sidhma (fungal infection like ptyriasis versicolor) and kilas (vitiligo), a type of kushtha (skin diseases) 4. Fourth is that from which dadru (ring worm infestation) and kushtha originate. 5. Fifth is that in which alaji (dermoid cyst) and vidradhi(abscess) are formed, and 6. Sixth is that which causes severe pain when it is cut, and the person feels like he is sinking in dark. Ulcers are caused in this layer and red-and-black colored boils with hard roots are caused at the unions of the structures (connective tissues), which are very difficult to treat. These six layers of skin cover up the underlying shadanga sharira (body of six divisions).
[Subdivisions of body] The body can be divided into six divisions (shadanga sharira), i.e., two upper limbs (bahu), two lower limbs (sakthi), head and the neck (shira and griva), and the torso (antaradhi).