Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4

Chapter 244 — चामरादिलक्षणम् / आयुधलक्षणादि

Characteristics of the Fly-whisk and Related Royal Emblems; Weapon Characteristics

Devanagari script

विस्तारेण त्रिहस्तं स्यात् सुवर्णाद्यैश् च चित्रितं धनुर्द्रव्यत्रयं लोहं शृङ्गं दारु द्विजोत्तम

Transliteration

vistāreṇa trihastaṃ syāt suvarṇādyaiś ca citritaṃ dhanurdravyatrayaṃ lohaṃ śṛṅgaṃ dāru dvijottama

Translation

全き寸法では長さ三ハスタ（hasta）とし、黄金などで装飾してよい。弓の材は三つ、すなわち金属・角・木である、ああ、最勝の二度生まれ（dvija）よ。

Word by Word

• विस्तारेण: in breadth / as to width
• विस्तारेण: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular) — ‘in/with breadth’

• त्रि-हस्तम्: three cubits
• त्रि-हस्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः — ‘three-hasta (three cubits)’

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् — ‘should be’

• सुवर्ण-आद्यैः: with gold and the like
• सुवर्ण-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural) — ‘with gold etc.’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• चित्रितम्: decorated
• चित्रितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्रित (कृदन्त; √चित्र्/चित्रय्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् — ‘decorated/painted’

• धनुः-द्रव्य-त्रयम्: the three materials for the bow
• धनुः-द्रव्य-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + द्रव्य + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः — ‘three materials of the bow’

• लोहम्: iron
• लोहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• शृङ्गम्: horn
• शृङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• दारु: wood
• दारु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन एकवचनम् (Vocative singular); कर्मधारयः — ‘best of the twice-born’

Speaker

Lord Agni

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Guidelines for bow dimensions, ornamentation, and material selection for performance and status display.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dhanus-pramāṇa and Dhanur-dravya-traya (metal–horn–wood)","lookup_keywords":["dhanus","trihasta","suvarṇa-citraṇa","loha","śṛṅga","dāru"],"quick_summary":"A bow’s full measure is set at three hastas, optionally ornamented; bow-making recognizes three principal material bases—metal, horn, and wood."}

Dhanurveda Layer

Weapon Type: Bow (dhanus)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa (standard measure) and dravya-bheda (material taxonomy) as the basis of reliable weapon performance.

Application: Select bow type by material availability and desired properties (spring, resilience, weight), keeping canonical length for predictable draw and aim.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Archery and Weapon-Craft)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A bow-maker presents a three-hasta bow, inlaid with gold patterns, alongside samples of metal, horn, and wood used in bow construction.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: artisan and warrior in profile, three-hasta bow held horizontally, gold-like ochre ornament motifs, material samples (loha, śṛṅga, dāru) arranged on a mat, bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly decorated bow with gold leaf filigree, gemstones on grip, material triad displayed; frontal iconic composition with heavy ornamentation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional panel showing bow length marked as 3 hastas, side notes for three materials; delicate shading, precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: court workshop scene, bow being gilded, horn and wood pieces on a low table, metal fittings nearby; fine textile and tool details."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hindol","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्रिहस्तं → त्रि-हस्तम्; सुवर्णाद्यैश् → सुवर्ण-आद्यैः; धनुर्द्रव्यत्रयं → धनुः-द्रव्य-त्रयम्.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda sections on bow types, bowstringing, and arrow-making; Agni Purana māna system (hasta/aṅgula) used across crafts

Characters & Entities

• Dhanurveda

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It teaches Dhanurvedic specifications for a bow: a standard measure (three hands) and the accepted material classes—metal, horn, and wood—along with optional precious ornamentation.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

By preserving practical military-technical knowledge (weapon dimensions, materials, and finishing), it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium that includes warfare sciences alongside ritual, ethics, and other disciplines.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

Within a dharmic framework, correct construction and proper specification of weapons supports righteous protection (rakṣaṇa) and disciplined use of force, aligning martial practice with dharma rather than harm driven by adharma.