Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 62
अश्ववाहनसारः
Aśvavāhana-sāra) — Essentials of Horses as Mounts (and Horse-Treatment
वल्गितावल्गितौ चैव षोटा चेत्थमुदाहृतम् वीथीधनुःशतं यावदशीतिर् नवतिस् तथा
valgitāvalgitau caiva ṣoṭā cetthamudāhṛtam vīthīdhanuḥśataṃ yāvadaśītir navatis tathā
Tinatawag din na “Valgita” at “Avalgita”; at ang “Ṣoṭā” ay ipinahayag sa ganitong paraan. Gayundin, ang sukat na “Vīthī” ay umaabot hanggang isang daang busog, at may iba pang sukat na umaabot din sa walumpu at siyamnapu.
Lord Agni (teaching Dhanurveda to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Standardizing battlefield movement terms and logistical measures (distance/extent in bow-length units) for marching, deployment, and archery-range planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Valgita/Avalgita/Ṣoṭā terms and Vīthī measure (bow-length units)","lookup_keywords":["valgita","avalgita","ṣoṭā","vīthī","dhanu-śata"],"quick_summary":"Defines named movement/operation categories and gives a practical measure: vīthī extending to 100 bow-lengths, with related extents of 80 and 90—useful for drill, spacing, and field calculation."}
Weapon Type: Bow
Concept: Pramāṇa (measurement) and saṃjñā (technical nomenclature) enable coordinated action.
Application: Use shared terms and units to prevent confusion in training and on the battlefield; convert space into countable bow-lengths for planning.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Archery & Military Science)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A military instructor marks a training ground with measured lanes labeled vīthī, counting bow-lengths to 80, 90, and 100; archers stand in ordered lines practicing maneuvers named valgita and avalgita.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized training field with measured lanes, archers holding bows, instructor pointing with staff, numeric markers 80/90/100 in traditional script-like motifs, earthy reds and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on bows and boundary markers, symmetrical composition of archers in ranks, instructor at center, decorative borders framing the measured vīthī lane.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: top-down training ground with bow-length ticks, labels vīthī, 80/90/100, small vignettes of valgita/avalgita maneuvers, fine linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed cantonment training scene, measured field with attendants holding bows as measuring rods, instructor recording counts, delicate landscape and tents in background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वल्गितावल्गितौ = वल्गित-अवल्गितौ (द्वन्द्व). चेत्थमुदाहृतम् = च इत्थम् उदाहृतम्. वीथीधनुःशतम् = वीथी-धनुः-शतम्. यावदशीतिः = यावत् अशीतिः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda chapters on vyūha (formations), māna (measures), and archery practice ranges
FAQs
This verse imparts Dhanurveda technical nomenclature—named range/measure terms (valgita, avalgita, ṣoṭā) and the definition of distance standards such as vīthī measured in ‘bows’ (dhanuḥ), including benchmarks like 80, 90, and 100 bow-lengths.
By cataloging specialized military-science vocabulary and standardized units of distance, it shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium not only of theology and ritual but also of practical disciplines like archery science, measurement systems, and technical classification.
While primarily technical, placing disciplined martial knowledge within a Purana frames warfare and royal duty under dharma—implying that correct training, measured action, and regulated force support righteous protection rather than reckless violence.