Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 5
Chapter 244 — चामरादिलक्षणम् / आयुधलक्षणादि
Characteristics of the Fly-whisk and Related Royal Emblems; Weapon Characteristics
ज्याद्रव्यत्रितयञ्चैव वंशभङ्गत्वचस् तथा दारुचापप्रमाणन्तु श्रेष्ठं हस्तचतुष्टयं
jyādravyatritayañcaiva vaṃśabhaṅgatvacas tathā dārucāpapramāṇantu śreṣṭhaṃ hastacatuṣṭayaṃ
បានពណ៌នាអំពីសម្ភារៈ ៣ ប្រភេទសម្រាប់ខ្សែធ្នូ និងស្បែក/សំបកបន្ទះឫស្សីដែលរៀបចំសម្រាប់ចងពង្រឹង។ ហើយវិមាត្រល្អបំផុតសម្រាប់ធ្នូឈើ គឺ ៤ ហត្ថ។
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Selecting and preparing bowstring materials and reinforcement bindings; choosing optimal size for wooden bows for effective draw and durability.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Jyā-dravya-traya and Dāru-cāpa-pramāṇa (4 hasta)","lookup_keywords":["jyā (bowstring)","dravya-traya","vaṃśa","tvac (bark/skin)","dāru-cāpa","catuṣṭaya-hasta"],"quick_summary":"Bowstrings are made from three recognized material options, with bamboo-strip/bark reinforcement noted; the best standard for a wooden bow is four hastas."}
Weapon Type: Bow and bowstring (dhanus, jyā)
Concept: Yukti (practical engineering sense) in matching materials to function—tension-bearing (jyā) and flex-bearing (dāru) components.
Application: In practice, test string elasticity and moisture response; use reinforcement bindings to reduce limb failure and maintain consistent draw weight.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Archery and Weapon-Science)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close-up of bowstring preparation with three material bundles, bamboo-strip/bark bindings being wrapped on a wooden bow; a measuring cord marks four hastas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: craftsmen twisting bowstring fibers, wrapping bamboo/bark on bow limbs, warm earthy palette, clear tool depiction (spindle, clamps).","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ceremonial presentation of a long wooden bow (4 hastas) with highlighted bindings; gold accents on grip and binding points, stylized material bundles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: step-by-step instructional layout—(1) select jyā materials, (2) twist/ply, (3) bind with bamboo/bark, (4) measure 4-hasta bow; neat annotations.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: workshop interior with artisans preparing strings and binding bows, labeled bundles, meticulous rendering of fibers and bamboo strips."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: jyādravyatritayañcaiva → ज्या-द्रव्य-त्रितयम् + च + एव; वंशभङ्गत्वचस् → वंश-भङ्ग-त्वचः; दारुचापप्रमाणन्तु → दारु-चाप-प्रमाणम् + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda passages on bow construction, stringing, and repair; Agni Purana sections on material testing and craft qualities (guṇa-doṣa)
FAQs
It gives Dhanurveda-level technical specifications for bow construction: approved materials connected with the bowstring and reinforcement/binding using bamboo-split bark/skin, and states the ideal wooden bow length as four hastas.
By preserving practical military-technical knowledge—materials engineering and standardized measurements for weapons—alongside devotional and cosmological topics, it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging, handbook-like scope.
In a Puranic frame, correct craft and correct measure (pramāṇa) support dharmic protection of society; disciplined adherence to prescribed standards is treated as righteous conduct when weapons are made for lawful defense.