Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 22
Svāyambhuva-vaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu
सवर्णाधत्त सामुद्री दश प्राचीनवर्हिषः राजसूयाभिव्यक्तानामाद्य इति ख,चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः शुभ्रमिति ग,चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः सुवर्णाधत्त इति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः सर्वे प्रचेतसो नाम धनुर्वेदस्य पारगाः
savarṇādhatta sāmudrī daśa prācīnavarhiṣaḥ rājasūyābhivyaktānāmādya iti kha,cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ śubhramiti ga,cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ suvarṇādhatta iti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ sarve pracetaso nāma dhanurvedasya pāragāḥ
Саварṇадхатта, Самудри и десять (сыновей) Прачина-вархиса — (в некоторых помеченных рукописях читается) «первый среди явленных раджасуей»; (в иных) «Шубхра»; и (в иных) «Суварṇадхатта» — все они, известные как Прачеты, были мастерами, полностью постигшими Дханурведу, науку о луке и стрельбе.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating the Agni Purana to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Lineage-memory for martial pedagogy: identifying named masters (Pracetases) as authoritative transmitters of Dhanurveda; useful for framing a guru-paramparā and validating training traditions.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pracetases as Dhanurveda-pāragas (masters of archery science)","lookup_keywords":["Pracetases","Dhanurveda","Prācīnavarhis sons","Savarṇādhatta","Sāmudrī"],"quick_summary":"The verse catalogs figures associated with Prācīnavarhis and states that the Pracetases were fully accomplished in Dhanurveda. It preserves variant readings of names, reflecting textual transmission alongside martial lineage."}
Weapon Type: Bow (dhanus)
Concept: Vidya is preserved through paramparā; mastery is recognized by being ‘pāraga’ (one who has crossed to the far shore) of a discipline.
Application: In training traditions, anchor curricula to recognized lineages and maintain careful textual/nominal accuracy (awareness of variant readings).
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian military science and archery tradition)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A group of renowned Pracetases presented as archery masters, with bows and quivers, shown as a lineage assembly with name-scrolls indicating variant readings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ten Pracetases in symmetrical row holding bows, stylized forest/ocean backdrop, palm-leaf manuscript motif showing variant names, bold outlines and traditional ornamentation.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central archery-guru figure with disciples (Pracetases) around, gold work on bows, quivers, and halos, inscriptions of Savarṇādhatta/Sāmudrī/Śubhra in decorative cartouches.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic scene: archery stance demonstration, labeled figures for each Pracetasa, clean composition, fine brushwork, minimal background for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly training ground, archers practicing with composite bows, attendants with manuscripts noting variant readings, detailed textiles and weapon ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Verse contains extensive critical-apparatus notes (ख/ग-चिह्नित-पुस्तक-पाठः) treated as nominal compounds; prācīnavarhiṣaḥ = gen. sg. of प्राचीनवर्हिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Dhanurveda chapters (archery, weapons, training, formations); Agni Purana: genealogies of Prajāpatis/Pracetases
FAQs
It identifies authoritative lineages and named masters associated with Dhanurveda, establishing who is recognized as fully accomplished in archery/weapon-science and preserving variant manuscript readings of those names.
By cataloging specialists and traditions (here, Dhanurveda experts) and even recording textual variants, it functions like a reference compendium—linking military science, genealogy, and royal-ritual vocabulary (Rājasūya) within one Purāṇic framework.
The verse primarily serves a preservational and authoritative purpose—affirming legitimate transmitters of Dhanurveda; its implied dharmic value is that right knowledge should be learned from recognized masters within an established lineage.