Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 13
Adhyāya 361 — अव्ययवर्गः
Avyaya-vargaḥ) — The Section on Indeclinables (Colophon/Closure
यन्ता हस्तिपके सूते वह्निज्वाला च हेतयः स्रुतं शास्त्रावधृतयोर्युगपर्याप्तयोः कृतं
yantā hastipake sūte vahnijvālā ca hetayaḥ srutaṃ śāstrāvadhṛtayoryugaparyāptayoḥ kṛtaṃ
“yantrā”（制御者）指驭象者（hastipaka）与御车者（sūta）；诸武器如同火焰之舌（vahni-jvālā）。此义由传统相承，并为权威论典所确立——其编定足以使其正当施用，即便历经漫长诸劫（yuga）亦然。
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Identifies technical roles (elephant-driver, charioteer) under ‘yantrā/controller’ and frames weapons as fire-tongues; asserts transmission by tradition and śāstra—supporting standardized military training and doctrine continuity.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Yantrā (controller) roles and śāstra-authorized weapon doctrine","lookup_keywords":["yantrā","hastipaka","sūta","hetayaḥ (weapons)","śāstra-avadhr̥ta"],"quick_summary":"Explains ‘yantrā’ as the controller/driver—elephant-driver and charioteer—and poetically characterizes weapons as flames; emphasizes that the doctrine is traditional and fixed by authoritative treatises for long-term applicability."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Weapon Type: General (hetayaḥ: weapons)
Concept: Śāstra-pramāṇya and paramparā: validated tradition codified for enduring right practice (yuga-paryāpta).
Application: Grounds military practice in authoritative manuals and lineage transmission, encouraging standard drills and role-specialization rather than ad hoc fighting.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military Science and Weaponry)
Primary Rasa: Vira
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A battlefield training ground: an elephant-driver (hastipaka) guiding a war elephant with goad, a charioteer (sūta) controlling horses and reins; weapons in soldiers’ hands are depicted as flame-tongues; a teacher holds a manuscript indicating śāstra authorization and tradition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dynamic elephant and chariot scene with bold outlines; flaming weapons stylized like Agni’s tongues; a guru with palm-leaf text in corner; flat background with decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly ornamented war elephant and chariot with gold highlights; flames rendered with gold-red accents; authoritative teacher figure with manuscript; symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional war-craft plate—clear depiction of hastipaka tools (aṅkuśa), sūta reins and posture, labeled roles; controlled flames on weapons; muted palette for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed cavalry-chariot-elephant corps scene; charioteer in fine garments, elephant-driver atop elephant; weapons painted with stylized flame motifs; a scribe/teacher with a treatise scroll at the margin."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शास्त्रावधृतयोर् → शास्त्र-अवधृतयोः; योर्युग- → योः युग- (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Dhanurveda chapters on chariots, elephants, and weapon classifications; Agni Purana sections asserting śāstra authority and paramparā in other vidyās
FAQs
It defines battlefield technical roles—operators/controllers (yantrā) identified with the elephant-driver and charioteer—and characterizes weapons as intensely destructive, while grounding this doctrine in transmitted tradition and śāstra-based military instruction.
It shows the Agni Purana functioning like a technical compendium: alongside theology and ritual, it preserves practical military science (Dhanurveda), naming specific corps roles (elephant and chariot units) and asserting a treatise-backed standardization of knowledge.
By emphasizing śāstra-validated discipline and correct roles, it implies that even martial action should be regulated by authoritative dharmic-technical norms—reducing disorder and aligning conduct with prescribed duty rather than impulsive violence.