Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Chapter 106 — नगरादिवास्तुः
Vāstu Concerning Towns and Related Settlements
वज्रसूचीमुखं नेष्टं सकृद् द्वित्रिसमागमं चापाभं वज्रनागाभं पुरारम्भे हि शान्तिकृत्
vajrasūcīmukhaṃ neṣṭaṃ sakṛd dvitrisamāgamaṃ cāpābhaṃ vajranāgābhaṃ purārambhe hi śāntikṛt
La pointe de flèche dite « Vajra-sūcī-mukha » (pointe-aiguille de vajra) n’est pas recommandée. On préfère le type à jonction unique, ou à jonction double/triple (dvi/tri-samāgama) ; de même la forme d’arc (cāpābha) et la forme « vajra-nāga » (vajranāgābha). Au commencement d’un siège/assaut contre une ville (purārambhe), on dit que ces formes sont śānti-kṛt, c’est-à-dire apaisantes, employées pour conjurer les mauvais présages et la résistance.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Select auspicious/ritually effective arrowhead forms for siege commencement rites and avoid the disfavored vajra-sūcī-mukha; employ specified junctioned and shaped heads as śānti-kṛt to quell resistance/omens.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Arrowhead Types for Purārambha Śānti (Siege-Commencement Pacification)","lookup_keywords":["vajra-sūcī-mukha","dvi-tri-samāgama","cāpābha","vajranāgābha","purārambha"],"quick_summary":"At the start of an assault/siege, certain arrowhead forms are prescribed as pacificatory implements; the vajra-sūcī-mukha is discouraged, while junctioned and specific shaped heads are preferred."}
Weapon Type: Arrowheads (śara-mukha) and bow-related forms
Concept: In Dhanurveda, efficacy includes both material form (weapon geometry) and ritual timing (śānti at commencement).
Application: Standardize arrowhead inventory for siege openings; coordinate with priests/commanders for śānti operations before full engagement.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Archery and Weapon-Science)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An armory table displaying different arrowhead profiles labeled vajra-sūcī-mukha (rejected), dvi/tri-samāgama, cāpābha, and vajranāgābha; at a fort’s outskirts, a commander begins siege rites with priests performing śānti before the first volley.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized warriors and priests at dawn before a fort, ritual fire for śānti, close-up panel of arrowheads with distinct shapes, bold contours and traditional color blocks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted weapons and ritual vessels, commander offering at a small altar, arrowheads arranged like sacred implements, fort silhouette in background, ornate framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical clarity: neatly drawn arrowhead typology chart with labels, adjacent scene of siege commencement with calm ritual action, fine lines and muted elegance.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed camp scene before a fort, artisans presenting arrowheads to the commander, a small ritual being performed for śānti, intricate textiles and weapon detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cāpa + ābham → cāpābham; vajra-nāga + ābham → vajranāgābham; pura + ārambhe → purārambhe.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda chapters on śara-lakṣaṇa (arrow types); Agni Purana śānti/utpāta-nivāraṇa (pacification of omens) materials where warfare rites are integrated
FAQs
It classifies specific arrowhead forms, rejects the “vajra-needle-point” type, and recommends other junctioned/curved/serpentine forms, noting their use in pacificatory (śānti) operations at the start of a city/fort campaign.
It blends practical military engineering (weapon-tip morphology and battlefield use) with ritual theory (śānti at purārambha), illustrating how the Agni Purana treats warfare, omens, and rites as a single integrated knowledge-system.
By prescribing śānti-kṛt measures at the outset of conflict, it frames warfare as requiring ritual pacification—aimed at reducing inauspiciousness, stabilizing outcomes, and limiting harmful consequences.