Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 70
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
धर्मविवर्धनमिति ज मन्त्रश् च हि रथ ह्य् एतच्छराणामिति क , छ ,च विष्णोः क्रमेति मन्त्रश् च रथारोहणिकः परः आजङ्घेतीति चाश्वानां ताडनीयमुदाहृतं
dharmavivardhanamiti ja mantraś ca hi ratha hy etaccharāṇāmiti ka , cha ,ca viṣṇoḥ krameti mantraś ca rathārohaṇikaḥ paraḥ ājaṅghetīti cāśvānāṃ tāḍanīyamudāhṛtaṃ
‘धर्मविवर्धन’—यह ज-मंत्र है। ‘यह रथ इन बाणों से युक्त है’—यह क-, छ- और च-मंत्र है। ‘विष्णु के क्रम में’—यह रथ पर आरोहण का श्रेष्ठ मंत्र है। ‘आजङ्घेति’ घोड़ों को हाँकने/प्रेरित करने का ताड़न-उच्चार कहा गया है।
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the Dhanurveda section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Battlefield rites for chariot deployment: mantra-japa for mounting the ratha, empowering arrows, and urging horses in motion.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rathārohaṇa, Śara-siddhi, and Aśva-tāḍana Mantras","lookup_keywords":["rathārohaṇa-mantra","śara-mantra","aśva-tāḍana","viṣṇoḥ krama","dharmavivardhana"],"quick_summary":"Gives a compact set of operational mantras: one for dharma-increase, a set for arrows/chariot readiness, a Viṣṇu-stride formula for mounting, and a specific call to urge horses."}
Weapon Type: Chariot (ratha) with arrows (śara); horse-team (aśva)
Concept: Mantra as functional power (śakti) integrated with military action (karman) for dharma-aligned victory.
Application: Use mantra as a disciplined protocol: speech-act synchronized with mounting, arming, and driving to stabilize mind and coordinate the unit.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ratha-vidhi and Mantra-prayoga for archery and chariot warfare)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A warrior mounts a decorated chariot stocked with arrows; the charioteer urges the horses while mantras are recited before battle.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, ornate ratha with parasols and banners, warrior reciting mantra while stepping onto chariot, horses in dynamic pose, sacred aura around Viṣṇu-krama motif, traditional jewelry and textiles","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on chariot fittings and quiver, central warrior mounting ratha, stylized horses, inscription-like mantra bands, rich reds and greens, devotional-martial fusion","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional composition showing sequence: arrows arranged, foot on chariot step, charioteer raising whip, labeled mantra cues in margins, muted elegance","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed battlefield camp, close-up of chariot preparation, attendants handing arrows, charioteer urging horses, calligraphic cartouches for mantras, naturalistic horses and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रथ ह्य् → रथ + हि; एतच्छराणामिति → एतत् + शराणाम् + इति; चाश्वानाम् → च + अश्वानाम्; मन्त्रश् → मन्त्रः (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda khanda: ratha-vidhi sections; mantra-prayoga sequences around 259.71–259.74
FAQs
It gives Dhanurvedic mantra-prayoga: specific utterances linked to syllables (ja/ka/cha/ca) for empowering or designating chariot-and-arrow readiness, a Viṣṇu-related mantra for mounting the chariot, and a driving-call used to urge horses forward.
Alongside theology and dharma, the Agni Purana preserves practical military science—down to operational speech-forms used in chariot deployment, archery readiness, and horse-control—showing how mantra, phonetics, and battlefield procedure are integrated.
By framing battlefield actions with dharma- and Viṣṇu-associated mantras, the act of warfare is ritually disciplined—aiming to align power and success with auspiciousness, restraint, and dharmic intent rather than mere aggression.