Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 7
Chapter 244 — चामरादिलक्षणम् / आयुधलक्षणादि
Characteristics of the Fly-whisk and Related Royal Emblems; Weapon Characteristics
स्वल्पकोटिस्त्वचा शृङ्गं शार्ङ्गलोहमये द्विज कामिनीभ्रूलताकारा कोटिः कार्या सुसंयुता
svalpakoṭistvacā śṛṅgaṃ śārṅgalohamaye dvija kāminībhrūlatākārā koṭiḥ kāryā susaṃyutā
Ô dvija, la pointe de corne doit être façonnée avec un bout fin et recouverte de cuir. Sur un arc fait de fer śārṅga, la pointe (koṭi) doit être solidement jointe et formée comme le sourcil, tel une liane, d’une femme charmante.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha/disciples, Dhanurveda exposition)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Detailed finishing of bow tips (koṭi) using horn and hide coverings; aesthetic-functional shaping for secure joining and performance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Koṭi-nirmāṇa: horn-tip with hide covering; eyebrow-creeper profile","lookup_keywords":["koṭi (bow tip)","śṛṅga","tvac (hide)","śārṅga-loha","kāminī-bhrūlatā"],"quick_summary":"The bow tip should be small-pointed, horn-fitted, and hide-covered; on an iron śārṅga-type bow, the tip must be firmly joined and shaped in a graceful eyebrow-like curve for both strength and refined finish."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā
Weapon Type: Bow (iron bow with horn tips)
Concept: Sāmya of utility and beauty: correct form (ākṛti) enhances function; aesthetic simile encodes an engineering curve/profile.
Application: Use a consistent curved template (bhrūlatā-like) for tip shaping; reinforce with horn and hide to improve wear resistance and joint integrity.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Archery and weapon-craft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A close-up of an iron bow’s tip: horn insert wrapped with hide, the tip curve drawn like a woman’s arched eyebrow; artisan checks the joint and string groove.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: enlarged bow-tip vignette with horn and hide layers, artisan carving the eyebrow-like curve; warm reds/ochres, strong outlines, minimal background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate iron bow with gold accents; tip highlighted with gold leaf and embossed texture; elegant eyebrow-curve emphasized, devotional-craft aesthetic.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: technical illustration of koṭi profile—side view with curvature line, horn insert, hide wrap, and join points labeled; soft palette, precise detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: craftsman at low bench shaping bow tip, horn piece and hide strip on tray, delicate rendering of tools and the graceful curve motif."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वल्पकोटिस्त्वचा → स्वल्प-कोटिः + त्वचा; शार्ङ्गलोहमये → शार्ङ्ग-लोह-मये; कामिनीभ्रूलताकारा → कामिनी-भ्रू-लता-आकारा.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda passages on bow parts (koṭi, madhya, pāṇi-graha) and fittings; Agni Purana sections where poetic similes appear inside technical instruction
FAQs
It gives a Dhanurvedic specification for bow/arrow fittings: the horn-tip (koṭi) should be small and leather-covered, and on a śārṅga-iron bow the terminal tip must be firmly joined and shaped with a graceful curved profile.
Alongside theology and rites, the Agni Purana preserves practical technical manuals; here it records precise craft guidance—materials (iron type, horn, leather), joinery, and ergonomic/aesthetic shaping—typical of its wide-ranging “handbook” character.
While primarily technical, Dhanurveda in Purāṇic framing supports righteous protection (dharma-rakṣaṇa); crafting weapons correctly is presented as part of disciplined, responsible conduct for legitimate defense rather than harm.