Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 14
Chapter 244 — चामरादिलक्षणम् / आयुधलक्षणादि
Characteristics of the Fly-whisk and Related Royal Emblems; Weapon Characteristics
सपताकास्त्रसङ्ग्राहसांवत्सरकरान्नृपः ब्रह्मा वै मेरुशिखरे स्वर्गगङ्गातटे ऽयजत्
sapatākāstrasaṅgrāhasāṃvatsarakarānnṛpaḥ brahmā vai meruśikhare svargagaṅgātaṭe 'yajat
Wahai raja, Brahmā—yang menetapkan satu tahun sebagai ukuran untuk memperoleh dan menghimpun astra ilahi bernama “Sapatākā”—melaksanakan yajña di puncak Meru, di tepi Gaṅgā surgawi.
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha; addressing a kingly interlocutor as nṛpaḥ within the discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Frames astras as a compiled corpus acquired over a calendrical cycle; legitimizes weapon-lore through a cosmic-sacrificial origin narrative tied to Meru and the celestial Gaṅgā.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Origin-setting of Sapatākā astras and Brahmā’s Meru sacrifice","lookup_keywords":["sapataka-astra","Brahma-yajna","Meru-shikhara","svarga-ganga","samvatsara"],"quick_summary":"Locates the institutional origin of a class of divine missiles (Sapatākā astras) in Brahmā’s sacrifice on Meru by the celestial Gaṅgā, with the year (saṃvatsara) as the measure for their compilation."}
Alamkara Type: Itihāsa-purāṇa narrative framing (ākhyāna)
Weapon Type: Astras (divine missile-weapons), specifically Sapatākā class
Concept: Knowledge-systems are sanctified through yajña and regulated by kāla (saṃvatsara)
Application: Treat martial curricula as disciplined, time-bound study with ritual grounding and lineage validation
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Astras and weapon-lore; ritual origins of missile-weapons)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Mountain/River (celestial)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Brahmā performing a grand sacrifice atop Mount Meru beside the celestial Gaṅgā; divine weapons/astric emblems symbolically arranged as offerings; gods witnessing the institution of astras over the cycle of a year.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Brahmā with four faces seated near a blazing yajña-kuṇḍa on a stylized golden Meru, flowing celestial Gaṅgā as a blue-white band, devas in attendance, luminous adbhuta palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Brahmā with ornate crown and gold embossing, yajña fire rendered with gold highlights, Meru as tiered golden mountain, Gaṅgā as silver-blue ribbon, symmetrical divine assembly","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined depiction of yajña implements and labeled astric symbols (bannered ‘sapatākā’ motifs), soft shading, instructional clarity with cosmographic background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic mountaintop sacrifice scene, delicate riverbank detail, Brahmā officiating with priests and devas, intricate flora and cloud bands, subtle weapon-emblems among offerings"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वर्गगङ्गातटे = स्वर्ग-गङ्गा-तटे; तटे 'यजत् = तटे अयजत्; sapatākāstrasaṅgrāhasāṃvatsarakarān = स-पताक-अस्त्र-सङ्ग्राह-सांवत्सर-करान्
Related Themes: Agni Purana astravidyā catalogues and weapon-origin narratives in the Dhanurveda khanda
FAQs
It links astra-vidyā (divine weapon knowledge) to yajña: the acquisition/compilation of the Sapatākā astras is framed as ritually grounded, with a saṃvatsara (year) treated as the operative period for such a consecrated undertaking.
It fuses multiple domains—Dhanurveda (weapons), kalpa/ritual practice (yajña), and Purāṇic cosmography (Meru, Svargagaṅgā)—showing how technical martial knowledge is embedded within sacred time and sacred place.
By presenting astras as obtained through Brahmā’s yajña at a supremely sacred locus, the verse implies that power (śakti) must be legitimized by dharma and ritual purity, making martial capability a sanctified, merit-bearing discipline rather than mere violence.