Agni Purana — Sahitya-shastra, Shloka 8
Chapter 340 — नृत्यादावङ्गकर्मनिरूपणम्
Explanation of Bodily Actions in Dance and Performance
परिवाहितमाधूतमवधूतमथाचितं निकुञ्चितं परावृत्तमुत्क्षिप्तञ्चाप्यधोगतम्
parivāhitamādhūtamavadhūtamathācitaṃ nikuñcitaṃ parāvṛttamutkṣiptañcāpyadhogatam
परिवाहितम् आधूतम् अवधूतम् अथ आचितम्; निकुञ्चितं परावृत्तम् उत्क्षिप्तम् अधोगतं च—इति गत्यादयः।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"A technical vocabulary of weapon/limb handling motions (sweeping, shaking, casting off, contracting, turning, lifting, pressing down) for drilling transitions in archery and close combat; also transferable to codified movement in performance training.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Modes of handling/movement: sweeping, shaking, contracting, turning, lifting, lowering","lookup_keywords":["parivāhita","ādhūta","avadhūta","nikūñcita","parāvṛtta","utkṣipta","adhogata"],"quick_summary":"Lists standardized movement modes used to describe how a limb or weapon is moved—useful as a drill lexicon for teaching, correcting, and sequencing martial technique."}
Weapon Type: General weapon-handling; applicable to bow, sword, spear, mace as motion descriptors
Concept: Complex skill is built from named primitives of motion; naming enables correction, repetition, and transmission.
Application: Use these terms as coaching cues: identify which primitive failed (e.g., insufficient parāvṛtta) and correct that component rather than vaguely ‘move better’.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Archery & Martial Technique)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A martial instructor demonstrates a chain of movements—sweeping arcs, shaking, casting off, contracting, turning back, lifting, and striking downward—shown as successive frames around a central warrior.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic multi-pose warrior in circular sequence, motion lines emphasizing sweep and downward drive, traditional palette, stylized musculature and ornaments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central warrior with weapon, surrounded by eight small gold-framed vignettes each depicting one motion term, rich gold work and jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, step-by-step technical illustration with clear silhouettes and arrows for each motion (sweep, turn, lift, downstrike), labeled Sanskrit terms, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, training courtyard with sequential action captured across the page, fine detail on weapon arcs and footwork, instructor pointing to correct angles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: परिवाहितमाधूतम् = परिवाहितम् + आधूतम्; आधूतमवधूतम् = आधूतम् + अवधूतम्; अवधूतमथ = अवधूतम् + अथ; अथाचितम् = अथ + आचितम्; परावृत्तमुत्क्षिप्तम् = परावृत्तम् + उत्क्षिप्तम्; उत्क्षिप्तञ्चापि = उत्क्षिप्तम् + च + अपि
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda movement/ceṣṭā lists in the same chapter sequence; Agni Purana weapon-specific handling rules that employ such motion primitives
FAQs
It enumerates standardized Dhanurvedic movement-types—sweeping, shaking, contracting, reversing, lifting, and driving downward—used to classify and train weapon/aim handling.
By preserving a technical taxonomy of martial motions (a practical training vocabulary), it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium that includes military science alongside ritual and theology.
In the Purāṇic frame, disciplined technique supports dharmic protection (rakṣaṇa) of society; mastery used in righteous defense is treated as meritorious when aligned with dharma rather than aggression.