Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 5
Chapter 244 — चामरादिलक्षणम् / आयुधलक्षणादि
Characteristics of the Fly-whisk and Related Royal Emblems; Weapon Characteristics
ज्याद्रव्यत्रितयञ्चैव वंशभङ्गत्वचस् तथा दारुचापप्रमाणन्तु श्रेष्ठं हस्तचतुष्टयं
jyādravyatritayañcaiva vaṃśabhaṅgatvacas tathā dārucāpapramāṇantu śreṣṭhaṃ hastacatuṣṭayaṃ
ज्याद्रव्यत्रितयं चैव वंशभङ्गत्वचस्तथा। दारुचापप्रमाणं तु श्रेष्ठं हस्तचतुष्टयम्॥
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purana’s standard narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Selecting and preparing bowstring materials and reinforcement bindings; choosing optimal size for wooden bows for effective draw and durability.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Jyā-dravya-traya and Dāru-cāpa-pramāṇa (4 hasta)","lookup_keywords":["jyā (bowstring)","dravya-traya","vaṃśa","tvac (bark/skin)","dāru-cāpa","catuṣṭaya-hasta"],"quick_summary":"Bowstrings are made from three recognized material options, with bamboo-strip/bark reinforcement noted; the best standard for a wooden bow is four hastas."}
Weapon Type: Bow and bowstring (dhanus, jyā)
Concept: Yukti (practical engineering sense) in matching materials to function—tension-bearing (jyā) and flex-bearing (dāru) components.
Application: In practice, test string elasticity and moisture response; use reinforcement bindings to reduce limb failure and maintain consistent draw weight.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Archery and Weapon-Science)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close-up of bowstring preparation with three material bundles, bamboo-strip/bark bindings being wrapped on a wooden bow; a measuring cord marks four hastas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: craftsmen twisting bowstring fibers, wrapping bamboo/bark on bow limbs, warm earthy palette, clear tool depiction (spindle, clamps).","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ceremonial presentation of a long wooden bow (4 hastas) with highlighted bindings; gold accents on grip and binding points, stylized material bundles.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: step-by-step instructional layout—(1) select jyā materials, (2) twist/ply, (3) bind with bamboo/bark, (4) measure 4-hasta bow; neat annotations.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: workshop interior with artisans preparing strings and binding bows, labeled bundles, meticulous rendering of fibers and bamboo strips."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: jyādravyatritayañcaiva → ज्या-द्रव्य-त्रितयम् + च + एव; वंशभङ्गत्वचस् → वंश-भङ्ग-त्वचः; दारुचापप्रमाणन्तु → दारु-चाप-प्रमाणम् + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda passages on bow construction, stringing, and repair; Agni Purana sections on material testing and craft qualities (guṇa-doṣa)
FAQs
It gives Dhanurveda-level technical specifications for bow construction: approved materials connected with the bowstring and reinforcement/binding using bamboo-split bark/skin, and states the ideal wooden bow length as four hastas.
By preserving practical military-technical knowledge—materials engineering and standardized measurements for weapons—alongside devotional and cosmological topics, it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s wide-ranging, handbook-like scope.
In a Puranic frame, correct craft and correct measure (pramāṇa) support dharmic protection of society; disciplined adherence to prescribed standards is treated as righteous conduct when weapons are made for lawful defense.