Agni Purana — Chapter 244
AgP 244.1
:ए इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे स्त्रीलक्षणं नाम त्रिचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः ॥ छप्तेर् {२४४} :श् अथ चतुश् चत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः चामरादिलक्षणम् अग्निर् उवाच चामरो रुक्मादण्डो ऽग्र्यः छत्रं राज्ञः प्रशस्यते हंसपक्षैर् विरचितं मयूरस्य शुकस्य च
:e ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe strīlakṣaṇaṃ nāma tricatvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ || chapter {244} :ś atha catuś catvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ cāmarādilakṣaṇam agnir uvāca cāmaro rukmādaṇḍo 'gryaḥ chatraṃ rājñaḥ praśasyate haṃsapakṣair viracitaṃ mayūrasya śukasya ca
Thus in the Āgneya Mahāpurāṇa the two hundred forty-third chapter, called 'The Marks of a Woman'. || Now the two hundred forty-fourth chapter: The Marks of the Chowrie and Other Things. Agni said: A chowrie with a golden staff is the best; an umbrella is commended for a king, one fashioned with the feathers of a goose, of a peacock, or of a parrot,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 244.2
पक्षैर् वाथ बलाकाया न कार्यं मिश्रपक्षकैः :न् १ न शथेति छ॥ २ जठरमित्यादिः, ततो गुणा इत्य् अन्तः पाठः घ॥ , ञ॥ , पुस्तकद्वये नास्ति :प् ३८७ चतुरस्यं ब्राह्मणस्य वृत्तं राज्ञश् च शुक्लकं
pakṣair vātha balākāyā na kāryaṃ miśrapakṣakaiḥ :n 1 na śatheti cha.. 2 jaṭharamityādiḥ, tato guṇā ity antaḥ pāṭhaḥ gha.. , ña.. , pustakadvaye nāsti :p 387 caturasyaṃ brāhmaṇasya vṛttaṃ rājñaś ca śuklakaṃ
or else with the feathers of a heron; it should not be made with mixed feathers. Four-cornered for a brahmin, and round and white for a king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 244.3
त्रिचतुःपञ्चषट्सप्ताष्टपर्वश् च दण्डकः भद्रासनं क्षीरवृक्षैः पञ्चाशदङ्गुलोच्छ्रयैः(१)
tricatuḥpañcaṣaṭsaptāṣṭaparvaś ca daṇḍakaḥ bhadrāsanaṃ kṣīravṛkṣaiḥ pañcāśadaṅgulocchrayaiḥ(1)
And the staff (of the bow) has three, four, five, six, seven or eight joints; the bhadrāsana (seat) (is made) of milk-trees fifty aṅgulas in height.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.4
विस्तारेण त्रिहस्तं(२) स्यात् सुवर्णाद्यैश् च चित्रितं धनुर्द्रव्यत्रयं लोहं शृङ्गं दारु द्विजोत्तम
vistāreṇa trihastaṃ(2) syāt suvarṇādyaiś ca citritaṃ dhanurdravyatrayaṃ lohaṃ śṛṅgaṃ dāru dvijottama
It should be three hastas in breadth, and variegated with gold and the like. The material of a bow is threefold: iron, horn, wood, O best of the twice-born.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 244.5
ज्याद्रव्यत्रितयञ्चैव वंशभङ्गत्वचस् तथा दारुचापप्रमाणन्तु श्रेष्ठं हस्तचतुष्टयं
jyādravyatritayañcaiva vaṃśabhaṅgatvacas tathā dārucāpapramāṇantu śreṣṭhaṃ hastacatuṣṭayaṃ
And the material of the bowstring is likewise threefold: bamboo (fibre), hemp, and bark. But as for the measure of a wooden bow, the best is four hastas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.6
तदेव समहीनन्तु प्रोक्तं मध्यकनीयसि मुष्टिग्राहनिमित्तानि मध्ये द्रव्याणि कारयेत्
tadeva samahīnantu proktaṃ madhyakanīyasi muṣṭigrāhanimittāni madhye dravyāṇi kārayet
That same, reduced by an equal amount, is declared (the measure) for the middling and the smallest; in the middle one should place materials serving as a grip for the fist.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.7
स्वल्पकोटिस्त्वचा शृङ्गं शार्ङ्गलोहमये द्विज कामिनीभ्रूलताकारा कोटिः कार्या सुसंयुता
svalpakoṭistvacā śṛṅgaṃ śārṅgalohamaye dvija kāminībhrūlatākārā koṭiḥ kāryā susaṃyutā
The tip is small; the horn (is covered) with bark, O twice-born, in (bows) made of horn and iron; the tip should be made well-fitted, shaped like the eyebrow-creeper of a lovely woman.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.8
पृथग्वा विप्र मिश्रं वा लौहं शार्ङ्गन्तु कारयेत् शार्ङ्गं समुचितं कार्यं रुक्मविन्दुविभूषितं
pṛthagvā vipra miśraṃ vā lauhaṃ śārṅgantu kārayet śārṅgaṃ samucitaṃ kāryaṃ rukmavinduvibhūṣitaṃ
Either separately, O brahmin, or mixed, one should make the iron (bow) and the horn (bow); the horn (bow) should be made well-proportioned, adorned with dots of gold.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 244.9
कुटिलं स्फुटितञ्चापं सच्छिद्रञ्च न शस्यते सुवर्णं रजतं ताम्रं कृष्णायो धनुषि स्मृतं
kuṭilaṃ sphuṭitañcāpaṃ sacchidrañca na śasyate suvarṇaṃ rajataṃ tāmraṃ kṛṣṇāyo dhanuṣi smṛtaṃ
A bow that is crooked, split, or has holes is not commended. Gold, silver, copper, and black iron are prescribed for a bow.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 244.10
माहिषं शारभं शार्ङ्गं रौहिषं वा धनुःशुभं चन्दनं वेतसं सालं धावलङ्ककुभन्तरुः
māhiṣaṃ śārabhaṃ śārṅgaṃ rauhiṣaṃ vā dhanuḥśubhaṃ candanaṃ vetasaṃ sālaṃ dhāvalaṅkakubhantaruḥ
A bow of buffalo horn, of śarabha, of (other) horn, or of the rohiṣa (deer) is good; (also) sandal, cane, sāl, and the white arjuna tree.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.11
सर्वश्रेष्ठं धनुर्वंशैर् गृहीतैः शरदि श्रितैः पूजयेत्तु धनुः(३) खड्गमन्त्रैस्त्रैलोक्यमोहनैः
sarvaśreṣṭhaṃ dhanurvaṃśair gṛhītaiḥ śaradi śritaiḥ pūjayettu dhanuḥ(3) khaḍgamantraistrailokyamohanaiḥ
Best of all is a bow (made) of bamboos taken and dried in autumn; one should worship the bow with sword-mantras that bewilder the three worlds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.12
अयसश्चाथ वंशस्य शरस्याप्यशरस्य च ऋत्विजो हेमवार्णाभाः स्नायुश्लिष्टाः सुपत्रकाः
ayasaścātha vaṃśasya śarasyāpyaśarasya ca ṛtvijo hemavārṇābhāḥ snāyuśliṣṭāḥ supatrakāḥ
And (arrows) of iron and of bamboo, of reed and of what is not reed — straight (shafts) with the sheen of gold, bound fast with sinew, well-feathered.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.13
:न् १ चतुरस्रमित्यादिः, पञ्चाशदङ्गुलोच्छ्रयैर् इत्यन्तः पाठः ज॥पुस्तके नास्ति २ द्विहस्तमिति ट॥ ३ पूजयेत्तद्धनुरिति ग॥ , घ॥ , ञ॥ च :प् ३८८ रुक्मपुङ्खाः सुपङ्कास्ते तैलधौताः सुवर्णकाः यात्रायामभिषेकादौ यजेद्वाणधनुर्मुखान्
:n 1 caturasramityādiḥ, pañcāśadaṅgulocchrayair ityantaḥ pāṭhaḥ ja..pustake nāsti 2 dvihastamiti ṭa.. 3 pūjayettaddhanuriti ga.. , gha.. , ña.. ca :p 388 rukmapuṅkhāḥ supaṅkāste tailadhautāḥ suvarṇakāḥ yātrāyāmabhiṣekādau yajedvāṇadhanurmukhān
[textual notes] ... they have golden nocks, are well straightened, washed with oil, gold-coloured; at a military expedition, at a consecration and the like, one should worship the points of arrows and bows.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.14
सपताकास्त्रसङ्ग्राहसांवत्सरकरान्नृपः ब्रह्मा वै मेरुशिखरे स्वर्गगङ्गातटे ऽयजत्
sapatākāstrasaṅgrāhasāṃvatsarakarānnṛpaḥ brahmā vai meruśikhare svargagaṅgātaṭe 'yajat
The king (should honour) those who handle flags, weapons and the year's reckoning; Brahmā indeed sacrificed on the peak of Meru, on the bank of the heavenly Gaṅgā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.15
लौहदैत्यं स ददृशे विध्नं यज्ञे तु चिन्तयन् तस्य चिन्तयतो वह्नेः पुरुषो ऽभूद्वली महान्
lauhadaityaṃ sa dadṛśe vidhnaṃ yajñe tu cintayan tasya cintayato vahneḥ puruṣo 'bhūdvalī mahān
While pondering, he saw an iron demon as an obstruction in the sacrifice; as he pondered, out of the fire there arose a great and powerful man.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 244.16
ववन्दे ऽजञ्च तन्देवा अभ्यनन्दन्त हर्षिताः(१) तस्मात्स नन्दकः(२) कड्गो देवोक्तो हरिरग्रहीत्
vavande 'jañca tandevā abhyanandanta harṣitāḥ(1) tasmātsa nandakaḥ(2) kaḍgo devokto hariragrahīt
He saluted the Unborn (Brahmā), and the gods, delighted, greeted him; therefore that sword, called Nandaka by the gods, Hari took up.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 244.17
तं जग्राह शनैर् देवो(३) विकोषः सो ऽभ्यपद्यत खड्गो नीलो रत्नमुष्टिस्ततो ऽभूच्छतबाहुकः
taṃ jagrāha śanair devo(3) vikoṣaḥ so 'bhyapadyata khaḍgo nīlo ratnamuṣṭistato 'bhūcchatabāhukaḥ
The god grasped it slowly, and it came free of its sheath — a dark sword with a jewelled hilt; thereupon (the demon) became hundred-armed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.18
दैत्यः स गदया देवान् द्रावयामास वै रणे विष्णुना खड्गच्छिन्नानि दैत्यगात्राणि भूतले
daityaḥ sa gadayā devān drāvayāmāsa vai raṇe viṣṇunā khaḍgacchinnāni daityagātrāṇi bhūtale
That demon put the gods to flight in the battle with his mace; the demon's limbs, severed by Viṣṇu with the sword, (fell) to the ground.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 244.19
पतितानि तु संस्पर्शान्नन्दकस्य च तानि हि लोहभूतानि सर्वाणि हत्वा तस्मै हरिर्वरं
patitāni tu saṃsparśānnandakasya ca tāni hi lohabhūtāni sarvāṇi hatvā tasmai harirvaraṃ
And those that had fallen all became iron through the touch of Nandaka; having slain him, Hari (gave) him a boon.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.20
ददौ पवित्रमङ्गन्ते आयुधाय भवेद्भुवि हरिप्रसादाद् ब्रह्मापि विना विघ्नं हरिं प्रभुं
dadau pavitramaṅgante āyudhāya bhavedbhuvi hariprasādād brahmāpi vinā vighnaṃ hariṃ prabhuṃ
He gave (it): "(You) shall be a purifier for weaponry on earth to the end of..." By Hari's favour Brahmā too, without obstruction, (worshipped) Hari the lord.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.21
पूजयामास यज्ञेन वक्ष्ये ऽथो खड्गलक्षणं खटीखट्टरजाता ये दशनीयास्तुते स्मृताः
pūjayāmāsa yajñena vakṣye 'tho khaḍgalakṣaṇaṃ khaṭīkhaṭṭarajātā ye daśanīyāstute smṛtāḥ
...worshipped him with a sacrifice. Now I shall declare the marks of the sword. Those produced in Khaṭī and Khaṭṭara are held to be worth showing.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.22
कायच्छिदस्त्वाषिकाः स्युर्दृढाः सूर्पारकोद्भवाः तीक्ष्णाश्छेदसहा वङ्गास्तीक्ष्णाःस्युश्चाङ्गदेशजाः
kāyacchidastvāṣikāḥ syurdṛḍhāḥ sūrpārakodbhavāḥ tīkṣṇāśchedasahā vaṅgāstīkṣṇāḥsyuścāṅgadeśajāḥ
Those from Tvāṣika cut through the body; those arising in Sūrpāraka are strong; the Vaṅga ones are sharp and stand up to cutting; and those born in the Aṅga country are sharp.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.23
शतार्धमङ्गुलानाञ्च श्रेष्ठं खद्गं प्रकीर्तितं :न् १ लोहदैत्यमित्यादिः, हर्षिता इत्य् अन्तः पाठः ज॥ पुस्तके नास्ति २ तस्मात्तु नन्दक इति घ॥ , ञ॥ च ३ महादेव इति ज॥ :प् ३८९ तदर्धं मध्यमं ज्ञेयं ततो हीनं न धारयेत्
śatārdhamaṅgulānāñca śreṣṭhaṃ khadgaṃ prakīrtitaṃ :n 1 lohadaityamityādiḥ, harṣitā ity antaḥ pāṭhaḥ ja.. pustake nāsti 2 tasmāttu nandaka iti gha.. , ña.. ca 3 mahādeva iti ja.. :p 389 tadardhaṃ madhyamaṃ jñeyaṃ tato hīnaṃ na dhārayet
A sword of fifty aṅgulas is declared the best. [text-critical notes: 1 the passage from "lohadaitya…" up to "harṣitā" is not in manuscript ja; 2 "tasmāttu nandaka" so in gha and ña; 3 "mahādeva" so in ja; page 389] Half of that is to be known as middling; one should not carry one less than that.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 244.24
दीर्घं सुमधुरं शब्दं युस्य खड्गस्य सत्तम किङ्किणीसदृशन्तस्य धारणं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते
dīrghaṃ sumadhuraṃ śabdaṃ yusya khaḍgasya sattama kiṅkiṇīsadṛśantasya dhāraṇaṃ śreṣṭhamucyate
O best one, the sword whose sound is long and very sweet, like a small bell — the carrying of that one is called the best.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 244.25
खड्गः पद्मपलाशाग्रो मण्डलाग्रश् च शस्यते करवीरदलाग्राभो घृतगन्धो वियत्प्रभः
khaḍgaḥ padmapalāśāgro maṇḍalāgraś ca śasyate karavīradalāgrābho ghṛtagandho viyatprabhaḥ
A sword whose point is (shaped) like a lotus petal, and one with a rounded point, is commended; (also one) with the sheen of an oleander leaf's tip, smelling of ghee, with the lustre of the sky.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 244.26
समाङ्गुलस्थाः शस्यन्ते व्रणाः खद्गेषु लिङ्गवत् काकोलूकसवर्णाभा विषमास्ते न शोभनाः
samāṅgulasthāḥ śasyante vraṇāḥ khadgeṣu liṅgavat kākolūkasavarṇābhā viṣamāste na śobhanāḥ
Marks on swords that stand at even aṅgula-measures are commended, (if) shaped like a liṅga; those of the colour of a crow or an owl, and uneven ones, are not auspicious.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 244.27
खड्गे न पश्येद्वदनमुच्छिष्टो न स्पृशेदसिं मूल्यं जातिं न कथयेन्निशि कुर्यान्न शीर्षके
khaḍge na paśyedvadanamucchiṣṭo na spṛśedasiṃ mūlyaṃ jātiṃ na kathayenniśi kuryānna śīrṣake
One should not look at one's face in the sword; one who has eaten (with unwashed mouth) should not touch the blade; one should not tell its price or its kind; one should not do (this) at night, nor at the head (of the bed).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain