Adhyaya 251
Dhanurveda-kathana (Exposition of Martial Science): Movements, Weapon-Operations, Combat Postures, and Battle Readiness
अत्र भगवान् अग्निः रणगतिचेष्टानां प्रहारक्रमाणां च तन्त्रविभागं निर्दिशति—भ्रान्तोद्भ्रान्त-श्येनपात-आकुलादीनि; ततः युग्मनामानि प्रशिक्षणपाठार्थं संहितास्वरूपेण कथयति। अनन्तरं पाठ्यक्रमः—(१) खड्गचर्मविधिः द्वात्रिंशत्स्थितिभिः (प्रत्यालीढ-आलीढ-वराह-लुलितादिभिः), (२) मल्लयुद्धकर्माणि—परिवर्तन-ग्रहण-ऊर्ध्वाधःक्षेप-धारण-अपसारणादि, (३) दण्डपाशबन्धभेदाः तथा व्यस्तपाशादिकर्माणि, (४) चक्र-शूल-तोमर-गदा-परशु-मुद्गर-भिन्दिपाल-लगुड-वज्र-पट्टिश-खड्गादीनां विशेषकर्माणि, अन्ते यन्त्रकर्म च। हस्तमुद्राः, देहचिह्नफलानि, रक्षौषधमङ्गलद्रव्याणि च निर्दिष्टानि। उपसंहारे गज-रथशस्त्रीकरणं, अङ्कुशधारि-धनुर्धर-खड्गधर-चर्मधरनियोजनं, मन्त्रेण शस्त्रसंस्कारः; ततः राजा धर्मतः जेत्वा राज्यं पालयेदिति।
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Frequently Asked Questions
A codified taxonomy of martial practice: named movement/attack modes, enumerated stance-systems (including thirty-two sword-and-shield postures), and weapon-specific karmas (operations) extending from hand weapons to cakra and yantra (mechanical devices), plus prescribed roles and equipment for elephants, chariots, and protective units.
By presenting warfare as Agneya Vidya governed by dharma: weapons are consecrated with mantra, skill is disciplined through named and countable methods, and victory is ethically completed by the duty to protect and govern—aligning embodied mastery (bhukti) with righteous order and higher purpose (mukti-oriented restraint).