Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 62
अश्ववाहनसारः
Aśvavāhana-sāra) — Essentials of Horses as Mounts (and Horse-Treatment
वल्गितावल्गितौ चैव षोटा चेत्थमुदाहृतम् वीथीधनुःशतं यावदशीतिर् नवतिस् तथा
valgitāvalgitau caiva ṣoṭā cetthamudāhṛtam vīthīdhanuḥśataṃ yāvadaśītir navatis tathā
“Valgita” and “Avalgita” are also so named; and “Ṣoṭā” is declared in this manner. Likewise, the measure called “Vīthī” extends up to a hundred bows, and other measures extend to eighty and to ninety as well.
Lord Agni (teaching Dhanurveda to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Standardizing battlefield movement terms and logistical measures (distance/extent in bow-length units) for marching, deployment, and archery-range planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Valgita/Avalgita/Ṣoṭā terms and Vīthī measure (bow-length units)","lookup_keywords":["valgita","avalgita","ṣoṭā","vīthī","dhanu-śata"],"quick_summary":"Defines named movement/operation categories and gives a practical measure: vīthī extending to 100 bow-lengths, with related extents of 80 and 90—useful for drill, spacing, and field calculation."}
Weapon Type: Bow
Concept: Pramāṇa (measurement) and saṃjñā (technical nomenclature) enable coordinated action.
Application: Use shared terms and units to prevent confusion in training and on the battlefield; convert space into countable bow-lengths for planning.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Archery & Military Science)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A military instructor marks a training ground with measured lanes labeled vīthī, counting bow-lengths to 80, 90, and 100; archers stand in ordered lines practicing maneuvers named valgita and avalgita.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized training field with measured lanes, archers holding bows, instructor pointing with staff, numeric markers 80/90/100 in traditional script-like motifs, earthy reds and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on bows and boundary markers, symmetrical composition of archers in ranks, instructor at center, decorative borders framing the measured vīthī lane.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: top-down training ground with bow-length ticks, labels vīthī, 80/90/100, small vignettes of valgita/avalgita maneuvers, fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed cantonment training scene, measured field with attendants holding bows as measuring rods, instructor recording counts, delicate landscape and tents in background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वल्गितावल्गितौ = वल्गित-अवल्गितौ (द्वन्द्व). चेत्थमुदाहृतम् = च इत्थम् उदाहृतम्. वीथीधनुःशतम् = वीथी-धनुः-शतम्. यावदशीतिः = यावत् अशीतिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda chapters on vyūha (formations), māna (measures), and archery practice ranges
FAQs
This verse imparts Dhanurveda technical nomenclature—named range/measure terms (valgita, avalgita, ṣoṭā) and the definition of distance standards such as vīthī measured in ‘bows’ (dhanuḥ), including benchmarks like 80, 90, and 100 bow-lengths.
By cataloging specialized military-science vocabulary and standardized units of distance, it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium not only of theology and ritual but also of practical disciplines like archery science, measurement systems, and technical classification.
While primarily technical, placing disciplined martial knowledge within a Purana frames warfare and royal duty under dharma—implying that correct training, measured action, and regulated force support righteous protection rather than reckless violence.