Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 50
Rājanīti (Statecraft): Ṣaḍvidha-bala, Vyūha-vidhāna, and Strategic Warfare
मण्डलः सर्वतोवृत्तिः पृथग्वृत्तिरसंहतः प्रदरो दृढको ऽसह्यः चापो वै कुक्षिरेव च
maṇḍalaḥ sarvatovṛttiḥ pṛthagvṛttirasaṃhataḥ pradaro dṛḍhako 'sahyaḥ cāpo vai kukṣireva ca
ধনুখন মণ্ডলাকাৰ হলে ‘মণ্ডল’ বোলা হয়। সকলো দিশে সম গ’লাকাৰ হলে ‘সৰ্বতোবৃত্তি’। পৃথক পৃথক/অসম বক্ৰতা থাকিলে ‘পৃথগ্বৃত্তি’। সংহত নহ’লে বা ঠিকমতে জোৰা নাথাকিলে ‘অসংহত’। ফাট/চিৰা থাকিলে ‘প্ৰদৰ’। অতিশয় কঠিন হলে ‘দৃঢ়ক’। টানিবলৈ অসহ্য বা অচল হলে ‘অসহ্য’। আৰু মধ্যভাগ পেটৰ দৰে ফুলি উঠিলে ‘কুক্ষি’ বোলা হয়।
Lord Agni (teaching Dhanurveda to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Inspection checklist for bow quality: classify curvature types and detect defects (split, over-rigid, belly-bulge, poor joining) to ensure safe draw and battlefield reliability.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Bow conditions: maṇḍala, sarvatovṛtti, pṛthagvṛtti, asaṃhata, pradara, dṛḍhaka, asahya, kukṣi","lookup_keywords":["chāpa-lakṣaṇa","pradara (crack)","asaṃhata (loose)","kukṣi (belly)","asahya (unmanageable)"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates named bow-forms and faults; use as a diagnostic vocabulary for selecting, repairing, or rejecting bows for training and war."}
Weapon Type: Bow
Concept: Guṇa-doṣa-viveka (discerning qualities and faults) in applied disciplines.
Application: Standardize procurement and safety by naming and rejecting defective equipment.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military Science: Archery and Weapons)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A rack of bows labeled by condition: perfectly rounded, all-sided rounded, uneven-curved, loosely joined, cracked, overly rigid, too hard to draw, and belly-bulged; a master inspects each with apprentices.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, weapons hall with bow rack, each bow painted with distinct curvature/defect, acharya pointing with a staff, students attentive, strong outlines and flat color fields","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate bow rack with gold embellishments, eight bows displayed like icons with small Sanskrit labels, rich textile backdrop, emphasis on craftsmanship and sheen","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition, sequential bows with fine annotations, master demonstrating crack and belly-bulge detection, subdued elegant palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, royal armoury inspection, artisans presenting bows to an officer, detailed wood grain and horn/sinew textures, each bow subtly showing listed defects"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sarvatovṛttiḥ → sarvataḥ-vṛttiḥ; pṛthagvṛttir asaṃhataḥ → pṛthak-vṛttiḥ asaṃhataḥ (k→g before v; visarga sandhi); dṛḍhako 'sahyaḥ → dṛḍhakaḥ asahyaḥ; kukṣir eva → kukṣiḥ eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 241 (bow/weapon taxonomy and handling)
FAQs
It imparts Dhanurvedic technical nomenclature for bow-forms and bow-defects (shape irregularities, poor joining/compaction, cracking, excessive rigidity, un-drawability, and belly-bulging) to evaluate a bow’s usability.
By preserving specialized weapons-science vocabulary and practical inspection criteria for archery equipment, it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a technical compendium beyond theology—covering applied military knowledge.
In the Purāṇic framework, correct knowledge applied to one’s duty (especially kṣātra/defensive duties) supports dharma; choosing sound equipment avoids harmful failure, reducing negligent harm and aligning action with righteous conduct.