Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 9
Chapter 244 — चामरादिलक्षणम् / आयुधलक्षणादि
Characteristics of the Fly-whisk and Related Royal Emblems; Weapon Characteristics
कुटिलं स्फुटितञ्चापं सच्छिद्रञ्च न शस्यते सुवर्णं रजतं ताम्रं कृष्णायो धनुषि स्मृतं
kuṭilaṃ sphuṭitañcāpaṃ sacchidrañca na śasyate suvarṇaṃ rajataṃ tāmraṃ kṛṣṇāyo dhanuṣi smṛtaṃ
No se recomienda un arco torcido, agrietado o lleno de perforaciones. Para los arcos se reconocen como apropiados el oro, la plata, el cobre y el hierro negro (como materiales o herrajes).
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, per the Agni Purana’s common dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Quality-control criteria for rejecting defective bows and approved metals for bow construction/fittings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dhanuḥ-doṣa (bow defects) and approved metals","lookup_keywords":["kutila-cāpa","sphuṭita","sacchidra","suvarṇa","kṛṣṇāyas"],"quick_summary":"Reject bows that are crooked, cracked, or perforated; recognized suitable metals for bow use include gold, silver, copper, and black iron—supporting reliability and standardization."}
Weapon Type: Bow
Concept: Doṣa-tyāga (elimination of defects) is prerequisite for siddhi (successful performance) in applied arts.
Application: Implement rejection criteria and material specifications to prevent failure in combat and training.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military Science / Archery and Weapon-Craft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An armorer inspects bows: one straight and polished, others shown as crooked, cracked, and worm-holed; a tray displays gold, silver, copper, and black iron fittings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, clear didactic panel: three defective bows labeled by form (crooked, cracked, holed) contrasted with an ideal bow; metallic fittings in gold, silver, copper, black iron rendered symbolically","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate presentation of approved metals as fittings around a central flawless bow, gold leaf highlighting suvarṇa, rich decorative frame, auspicious yet instructional","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical inspection scene: craftsman sighting along bow to check straightness, close-up of crack and hole defects, small swatches of metals for fittings","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court armory quality-control: inspector rejecting defective bows, assistant holding metal fittings (gold, silver, copper, black iron), fine detail and realistic workshop setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sphuṭitañcāpaṃ = sphuṭitam + ca + āpam; sacchidrañca = sacchidram + ca; kṛṣṇāyo = kṛṣṇa-āyaḥ (karmadhāraya).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda passages on weapon testing, bow-stringing, and arrow standards (same khanda/adhyāya cluster around 244)
FAQs
It gives Dhanurveda guidance for bow selection: reject warped, cracked, or perforated bows, and recognize prescribed metals (gold, silver, copper, black iron) as appropriate materials/fittings for bows.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical military-technical standards—here, quality control and materials used in archery equipment—showing its coverage of applied sciences like weapon-craft.
By emphasizing proper, non-defective equipment, the text promotes disciplined, dharmic conduct in martial practice—reducing harm caused by negligence and aligning warfare skills with responsibility and right action.