Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 4
Tvaritā-mūla-mantra and Related Details
Dīkṣā, Maṇḍala, Nyāsa, Japa, Homa, Siddhi, Mokṣa
वज्रस्य मध्यमं शृङ्गं वाह्यरेखा द्विधार्धतः वाह्यरेखा भवेद्वक्रा द्विभङ्गा कारयेद्बुधः
vajrasya madhyamaṃ śṛṅgaṃ vāhyarekhā dvidhārdhataḥ vāhyarekhā bhavedvakrā dvibhaṅgā kārayedbudhaḥ
वज्रे मध्यमं शृङ्गं वाह्यरेखां द्विधा कृत्वा निर्मिमीत। सा वाह्यरेखा वक्रा भवेत्; बुधः द्विभङ्गां कारयेत्॥
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s technical sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Technical specification for crafting a vajra (weapon/ritual implement): shaping the central prong with a bisected outer guideline, curved with a double bend for strength and iconic form.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vajra-śṛṅga-nirmāṇa: Central Prong with Curved Double Bend","lookup_keywords":["vajra","śṛṅga","vāhya-rekhā","dvibhāga","dvibhaṅga"],"quick_summary":"Form the vajra’s central prong using an outer guideline split into two halves; curve the line and create a controlled double bend to achieve the correct profile."}
Weapon Type: Vajra (thunderbolt/club-like emblem-weapon)
Concept: Lakṣaṇa (correct form) arises from measured rekhā; power is stabilized by proportion and controlled curvature.
Application: Use construction lines and symmetric halving to standardize weapon/implement profiles before forging/casting.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Weapon-craft and martial technicals: Vajra/weapon design and construction)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A skilled artisan draws a vajra blueprint: the central prong outlined with a bisected guideline, then shaped into a smooth curve with a distinct double bend before forging.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, artisan-smith near a forge, holding a stylus over a palm-leaf/board with a vajra outline, central prong shown with two-part guideline and elegant double bend, warm firelight palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, vajra rendered as a sacred implement with gold highlights, artisan presenting the curved double-bend prong design, ornate workshop shrine to Indra/guardian motif.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style technical illustration, clean diagram of vajra prong with marked halves and two inflection points (dvibhaṅga), side profile emphasized, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a metalworking atelier: master craftsman instructs apprentices, a detailed vajra drawing with curved double bend on paper, tools laid out precisely."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hindol","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्विधार्धतः → द्विधा + अर्धतः; भवेद्वक्रा → भवेत् + वक्रा; कारयेद्बुधः → कारयेत् + बुधः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda sections on weapon types and manufacture (adjacent khanda references); Agni Purana Shilpa guidelines for rekhā and curvature in crafted forms
FAQs
It gives a precise design rule for crafting the vajra: the central prong’s outer contour is divided into two halves and must be shaped as a curved outline with two bends—i.e., a specific profile for the prong.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves hands-on technical specifications—here, weapon morphology and artisan guidelines—showing it functions as a compendium that includes martial and craft sciences (Dhanurveda/śilpa-style instruction).
When such implements are made according to śāstric proportion and form, they are considered ritually “proper” (yathā-vidhi), supporting auspiciousness and correctness in any protective, royal, or consecratory use associated with the vajra.