Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 8
Chapter 340 — नृत्यादावङ्गकर्मनिरूपणम्
Explanation of Bodily Actions in Dance and Performance
परिवाहितमाधूतमवधूतमथाचितं निकुञ्चितं परावृत्तमुत्क्षिप्तञ्चाप्यधोगतम्
parivāhitamādhūtamavadhūtamathācitaṃ nikuñcitaṃ parāvṛttamutkṣiptañcāpyadhogatam
পৰিবাহিত (চাৰিওফালে ঘুৰাই বোৱাই নিয়া), আধূত (ঝাঁকনি দিয়া), অবধূত (ঝটকা দি আঁতৰোৱা), আৰু আচিত (সমেটি লোৱা); নিকুঞ্চিত (কুঁচকোৱা), পৰাবৃত্ত (পিছলৈ ঘুৰোৱা), উৎক্ষিপ্ত (ওপৰলৈ তোলা) আৰু অধোগত (তললৈ নমোৱা)—এইবোৰ গতি/হাতলনিৰ ভেদ।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"A technical vocabulary of weapon/limb handling motions (sweeping, shaking, casting off, contracting, turning, lifting, pressing down) for drilling transitions in archery and close combat; also transferable to codified movement in performance training.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Modes of handling/movement: sweeping, shaking, contracting, turning, lifting, lowering","lookup_keywords":["parivāhita","ādhūta","avadhūta","nikūñcita","parāvṛtta","utkṣipta","adhogata"],"quick_summary":"Lists standardized movement modes used to describe how a limb or weapon is moved—useful as a drill lexicon for teaching, correcting, and sequencing martial technique."}
Weapon Type: General weapon-handling; applicable to bow, sword, spear, mace as motion descriptors
Concept: Complex skill is built from named primitives of motion; naming enables correction, repetition, and transmission.
Application: Use these terms as coaching cues: identify which primitive failed (e.g., insufficient parāvṛtta) and correct that component rather than vaguely ‘move better’.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Archery & Martial Technique)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A martial instructor demonstrates a chain of movements—sweeping arcs, shaking, casting off, contracting, turning back, lifting, and striking downward—shown as successive frames around a central warrior.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic multi-pose warrior in circular sequence, motion lines emphasizing sweep and downward drive, traditional palette, stylized musculature and ornaments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central warrior with weapon, surrounded by eight small gold-framed vignettes each depicting one motion term, rich gold work and jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step technical illustration with clear silhouettes and arrows for each motion (sweep, turn, lift, downstrike), labeled Sanskrit terms, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, training courtyard with sequential action captured across the page, fine detail on weapon arcs and footwork, instructor pointing to correct angles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: परिवाहितमाधूतम् = परिवाहितम् + आधूतम्; आधूतमवधूतम् = आधूतम् + अवधूतम्; अवधूतमथ = अवधूतम् + अथ; अथाचितम् = अथ + आचितम्; परावृत्तमुत्क्षिप्तम् = परावृत्तम् + उत्क्षिप्तम्; उत्क्षिप्तञ्चापि = उत्क्षिप्तम् + च + अपि
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda movement/ceṣṭā lists in the same chapter sequence; Agni Purana weapon-specific handling rules that employ such motion primitives
FAQs
It enumerates standardized Dhanurvedic movement-types—sweeping, shaking, contracting, reversing, lifting, and driving downward—used to classify and train weapon/aim handling.
By preserving a technical taxonomy of martial motions (a practical training vocabulary), it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium that includes military science alongside ritual and theology.
In the Purāṇic frame, disciplined technique supports dharmic protection (rakṣaṇa) of society; mastery used in righteous defense is treated as meritorious when aligned with dharma rather than aggression.