Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
धनुस्तूणान्वितः कल्की म्लेच्छोत्सादकरो द्विजः अथवाश्वस्थितः खड्गी शङ्खचक्रशरान्वितः
dhanustūṇānvitaḥ kalkī mlecchotsādakaro dvijaḥ athavāśvasthitaḥ khaḍgī śaṅkhacakraśarānvitaḥ
Kalki — un dvija (né deux fois) — sera muni d’un arc et d’un carquois, accomplissant l’extermination des mleccha. Ou bien, monté sur un cheval, l’épée à la main, il sera pourvu de la conque, du disque et de flèches.
Lord Agni (narrating to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Provides the recognizable martial iconography and mission of Kalki for narrative recitation, temple art, and didactic teaching about yuga-transition.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Kalki-avatāra: bow-quiver or horse-mounted sword-bearer; mleccha-nāśa","lookup_keywords":["Kalki","Kali-yuga","mleccha-utsādana","dhanus-tūṇa","aśva-ārūḍha"],"quick_summary":"Kalki is portrayed as a warrior-restorer of order: armed with bow and quiver to destroy mlecchas, or alternatively as a horse-mounted swordsman bearing conch, discus, and arrows."}
Weapon Type: Bow (dhanus), quiver (tūṇa), sword (khaḍga), arrows (śara); also cakra and śaṅkha as divine emblems
Concept: Dharma-restoration through divine intervention at the nadir of Kali-yuga; violence framed as corrective, not acquisitive.
Application: Ethical lesson in governance and personal conduct: oppose adharma; uphold social order; interpret yuga narratives as warnings against moral decline.
Khanda Section: Avataras (Kalki-avatara and Kali-yuga description)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kalki as a fierce warrior: either standing with bow and quiver, or charging on a white horse with sword raised, with conch, discus, and arrows as divine insignia; enemies routed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic white horse, Kalki with radiant halo, sword uplifted, additional emblems (śaṅkha, cakra, śara) shown clearly, swirling battle clouds, stylized fleeing mleccha figures, bold reds and blacks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Kalki on ornate horse with gold halo and embossed ornaments, sword prominent, conch and discus rendered as sacred emblems, dramatic yet symmetrical composition with gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, detailed equestrian anatomy, crisp weapon depiction (bow/quiver variant shown as inset), soft background gradient, didactic labeling of weapons and posture.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature battle scene, Kalki on horse in center, sword glinting, archers and routed troops around, fine textile and armor details, landscape with dust and banners."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धनुस्तूणान्वितः = धनुः + तूण + अन्वितः; म्लेच्छोत्सादकरः = म्लेच्छ + उत्सादकरः; अथवाश्वस्थितः = अथवा + अश्वस्थितः; शरान्वितः = शर + अन्वितः (a + a → ā)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (avatāra descriptions and Kali-yuga context)
FAQs
It conveys purāṇic iconography and martial attributes (bow, quiver, sword, conch, discus, arrows) used to identify Kalki and his dharma-restoring function, rather than prescribing a ritual procedure.
By cataloging avatāra-identifiers and eschatological motifs (Kali-yuga decline and corrective divine intervention), it adds a doctrinal and iconographic layer alongside the text’s many practical subjects.
It frames the restoration of dharma as inevitable: adharma (symbolized by mleccha-rule/impurity) culminates in divine correction, reinforcing faith in moral order and karmic consequence across ages.