Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 71
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
याः सेना अभित्वरीति परसैन्यमुखे जपेत् दुन्दुभ्य इति चाप्येतद्दुन्दुभीताड्नं भवेत्
yāḥ senā abhitvarīti parasainyamukhe japet dundubhya iti cāpyetaddundubhītāḍnaṃ bhavet
Voltado para a linha de frente do exército inimigo, deve-se recitar o (mantra que começa) “yāḥ senā abhitvarīti”; e, recitando também “dundubhya”, isso se torna o rito de golpear o tambor de guerra.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Dhanurveda section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Psychological and ritual preparation at first contact: mantra-japa facing enemy front; drum-striking rite to signal advance and unify troops.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Enemy-Facing Japa and Dundubhi-Tāḍana Rite","lookup_keywords":["abhitvarī senā mantra","parasainya mukha","dundubhi tāḍana","battle drum rite","japa yuddhe"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes reciting a specific mantra while facing the enemy vanguard and striking the war-drum with a companion formula to initiate coordinated action."}
Weapon Type: War-drum (dundubhi) as a war-instrument; army-front engagement context
Concept: Speech (mantra) and sound (nāda) as instruments of order and courage in collective action.
Application: Use disciplined recitation and rhythmic signaling to reduce chaos, align attention, and stabilize fear in high-stress conflict.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Military Science: battle-mantras and war-instruments)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the battlefield edge, a commander faces the enemy line, reciting a mantra as drummers strike the dundubhi to launch the army’s movement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal commander with raised hand in japa-mudrā, large dundubhi drum with ornate straps, synchronized soldiers behind, enemy line in distance, bold reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold on drum rims and armor, central drummer striking dundubhi, commander reciting with halo-like aura, symmetrical troop rows, decorative borders with mantra text","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear narrative: commander facing enemy, drummer at side, troops aligned; fine detailing of drum construction and beat posture; minimal background for instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic battlefield with two armies, foreground commander reciting, drummer striking dundubhi, banners and standards, delicate faces and textiles, calligraphic caption cartouches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चापि → च + अपि; एतद्दुन्दुभीताडनम् → एतत् + दुन्दुभीताडनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda: śaṅkha-bherī-dundubhi usage; adjacent mantra-prayoga passages 259.70–259.74
FAQs
It teaches a Dhanurvedic battlefield procedure: recite specific mantra-incidents while facing the enemy front, and use them as the sanctioned rite for beating the war-drum (dundubhī-tāḍana).
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical war-technology and military protocol—here, the integration of mantra-recitation with battlefield signaling (drum-beat) as part of organized combat practice.
By framing martial action within mantra and prescribed rite, the act is sacralized—aimed at invoking auspiciousness, steadiness of troops, and a dharmically regulated approach to warfare rather than impulsive violence.