Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 25

Chapter 244 — चामरादिलक्षणम् / आयुधलक्षणादि

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

Devanagari script

खड्गः पद्मपलाशाग्रो मण्डलाग्रश् च शस्यते करवीरदलाग्राभो घृतगन्धो वियत्प्रभः

Transliteration

khaḍgaḥ padmapalāśāgro maṇḍalāgraś ca śasyate karavīradalāgrābho ghṛtagandho viyatprabhaḥ

Translation

ດາບທີ່ປາຍແຫຼມຄ້າຍປາຍໃບບົວ ແລະ ປາຍທ້າຍມົນຄ້າຍແຜ່ນວົງກົມ ຖືກສັນລະເສີນວ່າດີເລີດ; ຄົມຂອງມັນຄ້າຍປາຍໃບກະຣະວີຣ, ມີກິ່ນຫອມເໝືອນນ້ຳມັນເນີຍ (ghṛta), ແລະ ສ່ອງປະກາຍດັ່ງຄວາມສະຫວ່າງແຫ່ງຟ້າ.

Word by Word

• khaḍgaḥ: the sword
• khaḍgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• padma-palāśa-agraḥ: having a tip like a lotus leaf
• padma-palāśa-agraḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + palāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘पद्मस्य पलाशस्य अग्रः इव’ (intended sense: ‘lotus-leaf-tipped’); used as predicate adjective of khaḍgaḥ

• maṇḍala-agraḥ: round-tipped
• maṇḍala-agraḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘मण्डलस्य अग्रः’ (round-tipped)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• śasyate: is praised/commended
• śasyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Passive (कर्मणि), 3rd person, Singular

• karavīra-dala-agra-ābhaḥ: having the look of an oleander leaf-tip
• karavīra-dala-agra-ābhaḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karavīra (प्रातिपदिक) + dala (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘करवीरदलाग्रस्य आभा यस्य’ (having the appearance of oleander-leaf-tip)

• ghṛta-gandhaḥ: having the smell of ghee
• ghṛta-gandhaḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘घृतस्य गन्धः’

• viyat-prabhaḥ: sky-bright; shining like the sky
• viyat-prabhaḥ: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viyat (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘वियतः (आकाशस्य) प्रभा इव’

Speaker

Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Recognizing an excellent sword by tip/edge geometry, finish, scent (oil/ghee maintenance), and lustre; guidance for forging and upkeep.","sutra_style":false}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Uttama-khadga-lakṣaṇa (Ideal Sword Tip, Edge, Lustre)","lookup_keywords":["khadga","padmapalasha","mandalagra","karavira","ghrita-gandha"],"quick_summary":"An excellent sword is described through botanical and luminous analogies: lotus-leaf-like tip, rounded end, karavīra-leaf-like edge, ghee-like fragrance (well-oiled), and sky-like radiance (clean, bright polish)."}

Kavya & Alamkara Layer

Alamkara Type: Upama

Dhanurveda Layer

Weapon Type: Sword (Khadga/Asi)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa (diagnostic marks) for judging excellence in crafted objects.

Application: Use form + sensory cues (shape, sheen, smell of proper oiling) to assess readiness and quality.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Weapon-science and arms; description/classification of weapons)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close view of a gleaming sword: lotus-leaf-like point, rounded contour at the end, leaf-like keen edge; a small bowl of ghee/oil used for maintenance; the blade shines like the sky.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, enlarged iconic sword with botanical motifs (lotus leaf, karavīra leaf) painted as comparison panels, artisan applying ghee to blade, deep earthy palette with bright highlights","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf shimmer on the sky-bright blade, lotus and karavīra motifs embossed around, small gilded vessel of ghee, ornate hilt with gemstones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical illustration feel: labeled comparisons of tip and edge to leaves, subtle gradients showing ‘viyat-prabhā’ sheen, neat workshop setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed metallic rendering of blade and hilt, botanical studies of lotus and karavīra leaves on the margin, attendant oiling the sword, refined palette"}

Audio Atmosphere

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

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: padmapalāśāgro → padma-palāśa-agraḥ; maṇḍalāgraś → maṇḍala-agraḥ; dalāgrābho → dala-agra-ābhaḥ; viyatprabhaḥ → viyat-prabhaḥ.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 244 (śastra-lakṣaṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Khaḍga (sword)
• Padma (lotus)
• Karavīra (oleander plant)
• Ghṛta (ghee)

FAQs

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

It gives Dhanurveda-style lakṣaṇas (identifying marks) of an excellent sword—its ideal point/edge shape, rounded finish, distinctive lustre, and even its characteristic scent—used for evaluating weapon quality.

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

Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical technical knowledge—here, a concise specification list for arms assessment—showing its coverage of real-world crafts like weapon selection and martial standards.

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

By prescribing “praised” (śasyate) characteristics, the text frames proper, dharmic readiness for protection and kingship: choosing a fit weapon supports righteous defense and orderly governance rather than reckless violence.