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
王よ、梵天ブラフマーは、「サパターカー」と呼ばれる神聖な飛射武器（アストラ）を得て集成するための時の尺度として「一年」を定め、メル山の頂、天上のガンガー（スヴァルガ・ガンガー）の岸辺にて祭祀を行った。
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.