Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
धनुस्तूणान्वितः कल्की म्लेच्छोत्सादकरो द्विजः अथवाश्वस्थितः खड्गी शङ्खचक्रशरान्वितः
dhanustūṇānvitaḥ kalkī mlecchotsādakaro dvijaḥ athavāśvasthitaḥ khaḍgī śaṅkhacakraśarānvitaḥ
Kalki — ein Dvija (zweimal Geborener) — wird mit Bogen und Köcher ausgerüstet sein und die Vernichtung der Mleccha bewirken. Oder aber, auf einem Pferd reitend, das Schwert in der Hand, wird er mit Muschel, Diskus und Pfeilen versehen sein.
Lord Agni (narrating to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Provides the recognizable martial iconography and mission of Kalki for narrative recitation, temple art, and didactic teaching about yuga-transition.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Kalki-avatāra: bow-quiver or horse-mounted sword-bearer; mleccha-nāśa","lookup_keywords":["Kalki","Kali-yuga","mleccha-utsādana","dhanus-tūṇa","aśva-ārūḍha"],"quick_summary":"Kalki is portrayed as a warrior-restorer of order: armed with bow and quiver to destroy mlecchas, or alternatively as a horse-mounted swordsman bearing conch, discus, and arrows."}
Weapon Type: Bow (dhanus), quiver (tūṇa), sword (khaḍga), arrows (śara); also cakra and śaṅkha as divine emblems
Concept: Dharma-restoration through divine intervention at the nadir of Kali-yuga; violence framed as corrective, not acquisitive.
Application: Ethical lesson in governance and personal conduct: oppose adharma; uphold social order; interpret yuga narratives as warnings against moral decline.
Khanda Section: Avataras (Kalki-avatara and Kali-yuga description)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kalki as a fierce warrior: either standing with bow and quiver, or charging on a white horse with sword raised, with conch, discus, and arrows as divine insignia; enemies routed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic white horse, Kalki with radiant halo, sword uplifted, additional emblems (śaṅkha, cakra, śara) shown clearly, swirling battle clouds, stylized fleeing mleccha figures, bold reds and blacks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Kalki on ornate horse with gold halo and embossed ornaments, sword prominent, conch and discus rendered as sacred emblems, dramatic yet symmetrical composition with gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, detailed equestrian anatomy, crisp weapon depiction (bow/quiver variant shown as inset), soft background gradient, didactic labeling of weapons and posture.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature battle scene, Kalki on horse in center, sword glinting, archers and routed troops around, fine textile and armor details, landscape with dust and banners."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धनुस्तूणान्वितः = धनुः + तूण + अन्वितः; म्लेच्छोत्सादकरः = म्लेच्छ + उत्सादकरः; अथवाश्वस्थितः = अथवा + अश्वस्थितः; शरान्वितः = शर + अन्वितः (a + a → ā)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (avatāra descriptions and Kali-yuga context)
FAQs
It conveys purāṇic iconography and martial attributes (bow, quiver, sword, conch, discus, arrows) used to identify Kalki and his dharma-restoring function, rather than prescribing a ritual procedure.
By cataloging avatāra-identifiers and eschatological motifs (Kali-yuga decline and corrective divine intervention), it adds a doctrinal and iconographic layer alongside the text’s many practical subjects.
It frames the restoration of dharma as inevitable: adharma (symbolized by mleccha-rule/impurity) culminates in divine correction, reinforcing faith in moral order and karmic consequence across ages.