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
Un arco se denomina “maṇḍala” cuando es circular; “sarvatovṛtti” cuando está redondeado por todos lados; “pṛthagvṛtti” cuando presenta curvaturas separadas o desiguales; “asaṃhata” cuando no está compactado o bien ensamblado; “pradara” cuando está hendido o agrietado; “dṛḍhaka” cuando es rígido o demasiado duro; “asahya” cuando resulta insoportable de tensar (ingobernable en el uso); y “kukṣi” cuando tiene un ‘vientre’ abultado en la parte media.
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.