Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 9
Chapter 244 — चामरादिलक्षणम् / आयुधलक्षणादि
Characteristics of the Fly-whisk and Related Royal Emblems; Weapon Characteristics
कुटिलं स्फुटितञ्चापं सच्छिद्रञ्च न शस्यते सुवर्णं रजतं ताम्रं कृष्णायो धनुषि स्मृतं
kuṭilaṃ sphuṭitañcāpaṃ sacchidrañca na śasyate suvarṇaṃ rajataṃ tāmraṃ kṛṣṇāyo dhanuṣi smṛtaṃ
Busur yang bengkok, retak, atau berlubang tidak dianjurkan. Untuk busur, emas, perak, tembaga, dan besi hitam (kṛṣṇāyasa) disebut sebagai bahan yang layak.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, per the Agni Purana’s common dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Quality-control criteria for rejecting defective bows and approved metals for bow construction/fittings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dhanuḥ-doṣa (bow defects) and approved metals","lookup_keywords":["kutila-cāpa","sphuṭita","sacchidra","suvarṇa","kṛṣṇāyas"],"quick_summary":"Reject bows that are crooked, cracked, or perforated; recognized suitable metals for bow use include gold, silver, copper, and black iron—supporting reliability and standardization."}
Weapon Type: Bow
Concept: Doṣa-tyāga (elimination of defects) is prerequisite for siddhi (successful performance) in applied arts.
Application: Implement rejection criteria and material specifications to prevent failure in combat and training.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military Science / Archery and Weapon-Craft)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An armorer inspects bows: one straight and polished, others shown as crooked, cracked, and worm-holed; a tray displays gold, silver, copper, and black iron fittings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, clear didactic panel: three defective bows labeled by form (crooked, cracked, holed) contrasted with an ideal bow; metallic fittings in gold, silver, copper, black iron rendered symbolically","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, ornate presentation of approved metals as fittings around a central flawless bow, gold leaf highlighting suvarṇa, rich decorative frame, auspicious yet instructional","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical inspection scene: craftsman sighting along bow to check straightness, close-up of crack and hole defects, small swatches of metals for fittings","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court armory quality-control: inspector rejecting defective bows, assistant holding metal fittings (gold, silver, copper, black iron), fine detail and realistic workshop setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sphuṭitañcāpaṃ = sphuṭitam + ca + āpam; sacchidrañca = sacchidram + ca; kṛṣṇāyo = kṛṣṇa-āyaḥ (karmadhāraya).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda passages on weapon testing, bow-stringing, and arrow standards (same khanda/adhyāya cluster around 244)
FAQs
It gives Dhanurveda guidance for bow selection: reject warped, cracked, or perforated bows, and recognize prescribed metals (gold, silver, copper, black iron) as appropriate materials/fittings for bows.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical military-technical standards—here, quality control and materials used in archery equipment—showing its coverage of applied sciences like weapon-craft.
By emphasizing proper, non-defective equipment, the text promotes disciplined, dharmic conduct in martial practice—reducing harm caused by negligence and aligning warfare skills with responsibility and right action.