Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 71
अध्याय १ — यजुर्विधानम्
Agni Purana, Chapter 259: Yajur-vidhāna
याः सेना अभित्वरीति परसैन्यमुखे जपेत् दुन्दुभ्य इति चाप्येतद्दुन्दुभीताड्नं भवेत्
yāḥ senā abhitvarīti parasainyamukhe japet dundubhya iti cāpyetaddundubhītāḍnaṃ bhavet
Nakaharap sa unahang hanay ng hukbo ng kaaway, dapat bigkasin ang (mantrang nagsisimula sa) “yāḥ senā abhitvarīti”; at bigkasin din ang “dundubhya”—ito ang nagiging ritwal ng pagtugtog/pagpalo sa tambol ng digmaan.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, Dhanurveda section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Psychological and ritual preparation at first contact: mantra-japa facing enemy front; drum-striking rite to signal advance and unify troops.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Enemy-Facing Japa and Dundubhi-Tāḍana Rite","lookup_keywords":["abhitvarī senā mantra","parasainya mukha","dundubhi tāḍana","battle drum rite","japa yuddhe"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes reciting a specific mantra while facing the enemy vanguard and striking the war-drum with a companion formula to initiate coordinated action."}
Weapon Type: War-drum (dundubhi) as a war-instrument; army-front engagement context
Concept: Speech (mantra) and sound (nāda) as instruments of order and courage in collective action.
Application: Use disciplined recitation and rhythmic signaling to reduce chaos, align attention, and stabilize fear in high-stress conflict.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Ancient Indian Military Science: battle-mantras and war-instruments)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the battlefield edge, a commander faces the enemy line, reciting a mantra as drummers strike the dundubhi to launch the army’s movement.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal commander with raised hand in japa-mudrā, large dundubhi drum with ornate straps, synchronized soldiers behind, enemy line in distance, bold reds and ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold on drum rims and armor, central drummer striking dundubhi, commander reciting with halo-like aura, symmetrical troop rows, decorative borders with mantra text","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear narrative: commander facing enemy, drummer at side, troops aligned; fine detailing of drum construction and beat posture; minimal background for instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic battlefield with two armies, foreground commander reciting, drummer striking dundubhi, banners and standards, delicate faces and textiles, calligraphic caption cartouches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चापि → च + अपि; एतद्दुन्दुभीताडनम् → एतत् + दुन्दुभीताडनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda: śaṅkha-bherī-dundubhi usage; adjacent mantra-prayoga passages 259.70–259.74
FAQs
It teaches a Dhanurvedic battlefield procedure: recite specific mantra-incidents while facing the enemy front, and use them as the sanctioned rite for beating the war-drum (dundubhī-tāḍana).
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical war-technology and military protocol—here, the integration of mantra-recitation with battlefield signaling (drum-beat) as part of organized combat practice.
By framing martial action within mantra and prescribed rite, the act is sacralized—aimed at invoking auspiciousness, steadiness of troops, and a dharmically regulated approach to warfare rather than impulsive violence.