Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 68
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
मन्त्रश्चाहिरथेत्येतच्छराणां मन्त्रणे भवेत् वह्नीनां पितरित्येतत्तूर्णमन्त्रः प्रकीर्तितः
mantraścāhirathetyetaccharāṇāṃ mantraṇe bhavet vahnīnāṃ pitarityetattūrṇamantraḥ prakīrtitaḥ
The mantra beginning “āhirathe …” is to be used for the mantric empowering of arrows. The formula “vahnīnāṃ pitar …” is declared to be the tūrṇa mantra—swift in its effect.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Use one mantra specifically to empower arrows (śara-mantraṇa) and another as a rapid-effect (tūrṇa) formula for urgent martial deployment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śara-mantraṇa formula and Tūrṇa (swift-acting) mantra","lookup_keywords":["āhirathe","śara mantraṇa","vahnīnāṃ pitar","tūrṇa mantra","arrow empowerment"],"quick_summary":"The verse distinguishes a mantra for consecrating arrows from a ‘swift’ mantra intended for quick efficacy, indicating differentiated mantra selection by battlefield need."}
Weapon Type: Arrows (śara)
Concept: Applied knowledge classifies tools and formulas by function—preparatory empowerment versus rapid-response activation.
Application: In any discipline, separate preparation routines from emergency protocols; keep the latter short, memorized, and reliable.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Mantra-prayoga for Astra/Śara)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An archer empowers a bundle of arrows with mantra; a second vignette shows a tense moment where a short ‘swift’ mantra is uttered before immediate release.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, quiver and arrows laid before a small flame, archer chanting with hand over arrows, stylized wind lines indicating speed for the tūrṇa moment, bold contours and rhythmic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, arrows and quiver highlighted with gold, archer in frontal pose blessing/empowering arrows, radiant halo-like motif around weapons, ornate borders and lamp-lit altar.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise instructional depiction: arrow bundle consecration, then quick mantra utterance and release; clean outlines, minimal scenery, emphasis on hand positions and equipment.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed arrowheads and fletching, archer murmuring mantra, then rapid action scene with dynamic posture, fine landscape and courtly realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mantraścāhirathetyetat = mantraḥ ca ahi-ratha iti etat; etaccharāṇām = etat śarāṇām; pitarityetat = pitari iti etat.
Related Themes: Agni Purana dhanurveda mantra-prayoga for astras/śaras (same khanda context)
FAQs
It specifies two practical mantra-applications in Dhanurveda: one mantra used to consecrate/empower arrows (śara-mantraṇa) and another identified as a fast-acting (tūrṇa) mantra, likely for rapid efficacy in fire-related weapon action.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves technical instructions from martial science—here, operational details on mantra-based weapon consecration—showing how Puranic literature also functioned as a compendium of applied knowledge.
By prescribing mantras for weapon empowerment, the text frames martial action within a regulated sacred protocol, implying that effectiveness and legitimacy are tied to disciplined mantra-use rather than mere violence, aligning action with dharmic order and ritual purity.