Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 14
Chapter 340 — नृत्यादावङ्गकर्मनिरूपणम्
Explanation of Bodily Actions in Dance and Performance
अर्धचन्द्रोत्करालश् च शुकतुण्डस्तथैव च सुष्टिश् च शिखरश् चैव कपित्थः खेटकामुखः
ardhacandrotkarālaś ca śukatuṇḍastathaiva ca suṣṭiś ca śikharaś caiva kapitthaḥ kheṭakāmukhaḥ
(ଏହି ଶସ୍ତ୍ର-ରୂପମାନଙ୍କ ନାମ) ଅର୍ଧଚନ୍ଦ୍ରୋତ୍କରାଳ, ଶୁକତୁଣ୍ଡ; ତଥା ସୁଷ୍ଟି ଓ ଶିଖର; ଏବଂ କପିତ୍ଥ ଓ ଖେଟକାମୁଖ।
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Weapon-identification and standardized nomenclature for training, inventory, and battlefield communication; also guides smiths/armourers in shaping specific blade/edge profiles.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Astra/Śastra-ākṛti-nāmāni: Ardhacandra-utkarāla etc.","lookup_keywords":["Ardhacandra-utkarāla","Śukatuṇḍa","Suṣṭi","Śikhara","Kapittha","Kheṭakāmukha"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates recognized weapon-forms by technical names; useful for matching a weapon’s silhouette/edge-profile to its proper designation in Dhanurveda practice."}
Weapon Type: Edged/formed weapons (śastra/yantra-forms) classified by silhouette; likely blade-head or projectile-head profiles.
Concept: Nāma–rūpa correspondence in applied sciences: correct naming enables correct use.
Application: Use agreed terminology to avoid error in training, procurement, and deployment.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Weapon-science) – Astras and their classified names/forms
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A weapons-master displays a rack of differently shaped weapon-heads/blades labeled with their technical names: crescent (ardhacandra), beak-like (śukatuṇḍa), peak-like (śikhara), fruit-like (kapittha), and shield-mouth-like (kheṭakāmukha).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, a gurukula weapons hall, guru pointing to a crescent-shaped blade-head and beak-shaped head, palm-leaf labels in Sanskrit, flat iconic figures, ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on weapon rack and inscriptions, central guru figure with stylized weapons arranged symmetrically, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional diagram feel, each weapon-form neatly separated with Devanagari labels, muted pastel background, delicate shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed armory interior, attendants holding labeled weapon-heads, precise rendering of metal textures, calligraphic captions, architectural depth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्धचन्द्रोत्करालश्→अर्धचन्द्रोत्करालः; शुकतुण्डस्तथैव→शुकतुण्डः तथा एव; सुष्टिश्→सुष्टिः; शिखरश्→शिखरः; चैव→च एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 340 (Dhanurveda: śastra/āstra-nāma-bheda sections)
FAQs
This verse imparts Dhanurveda taxonomy—an enumeration of specific named weapon-forms (astra/weapon-head or formation names) used to classify and teach martial techniques.
By preserving specialized military vocabulary (lists of astra names and forms), it functions like a technical manual embedded within a Purana, alongside other disciplines such as ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics.
In the Agni Purana’s framing, disciplined knowledge of dharma-aligned protection and warfare supports righteous order (dharma-rakṣaṇa); mastering such vidyā is presented as part of responsible kingship and ethical defense.