Agni Purana — Chapter 248
AgP 248.1
:ए इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे पुष्पादिपूजाफलं नाम सप्तचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः ॥ छप्तेर् {२४८} :श् अथाष्टचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः धनुर्वेदः अग्निर् उवाच चतुष्पादं धनुर्वेदं वेदे पञ्चविधं द्विज रथनागाश्वपत्तीनां योधांश्चाश्रित्य कीर्तितं
:e ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe puṣpādipūjāphalaṃ nāma saptacatvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ || chapter {248} :ś athāṣṭacatvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dhanurvedaḥ agnir uvāca catuṣpādaṃ dhanurvedaṃ vede pañcavidhaṃ dvija rathanāgāśvapattīnāṃ yodhāṃścāśritya kīrtitaṃ
Thus, in the Āgneya Mahāpurāṇa, the two hundred and forty-seventh chapter, called 'the fruit of worship with flowers and the rest'. || Chapter 248. Now the two hundred and forty-eighth chapter: the Dhanurveda. Agni said: The Dhanurveda has four divisions, and in the Veda it is of five kinds, O twice-born; it is so declared with reference to the fighters of chariots, elephants, horses and foot-soldiers.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.2
यन्मुक्तं पाणिमुक्तं मुक्तसन्धारितं तथा अमुक्तं बाहुयुद्धञ्च पञ्चधा त्यत् प्रकीर्तितं
yanmuktaṃ pāṇimuktaṃ muktasandhāritaṃ tathā amuktaṃ bāhuyuddhañca pañcadhā tyat prakīrtitaṃ
What is released by a machine, what is thrown by hand, what is released yet held fast, what is not released, and fighting with the arms — that is declared to be fivefold.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.3
तत्र शस्त्रास्त्रसम्पत्त्या द्विविधं परिकीर्तितं :प् ३९६ ऋजुमायाविभेदेन भूयो द्विविधमुच्यते
tatra śastrāstrasampattyā dvividhaṃ parikīrtitaṃ :p 396 ṛjumāyāvibhedena bhūyo dvividhamucyate
Among these, it is declared to be of two kinds according to the possession of śastra (hand-weapons) and astra (missiles); [p. 396] and further it is said to be twofold by the distinction of straightforward and deceitful (fighting).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.4
क्षेपिणी चापयन्त्राद्यैर् यन्त्रमुक्तं प्रकीर्तितं शिलातोमरयन्त्राद्यं पाणिमुक्तं प्रकीर्तितं
kṣepiṇī cāpayantrādyair yantramuktaṃ prakīrtitaṃ śilātomarayantrādyaṃ pāṇimuktaṃ prakīrtitaṃ
The kṣepaṇī (sling), the bow, mechanical devices and the like are declared to be (weapons) released by a device; stones, tomara-lances, yantras and the like are declared to be released by the hand.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.5
मुक्तसन्धारितं ज्ञेयं प्रासाद्यमपि यद्भवेत् खड्गादिकममुक्तञ्च नियुद्धं विगतायुधं
muktasandhāritaṃ jñeyaṃ prāsādyamapi yadbhavet khaḍgādikamamuktañca niyuddhaṃ vigatāyudhaṃ
That which is (both) released and held fast is to be known (as a third kind), such as what is done with the prāsa-spear; and the sword and the like are unreleased; and close combat is without weapons.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.6
कुर्याद्योग्यानि प्रात्राणि योद्धुमिच्छुर्जितश्रमः धनुःश्रेष्ठानि युद्धानि प्रासमध्यानि तानि च
kuryādyogyāni prātrāṇi yoddhumicchurjitaśramaḥ dhanuḥśreṣṭhāni yuddhāni prāsamadhyāni tāni ca
One who wishes to fight, having overcome fatigue, should make his equipment suitable; combats with the bow are the best, and those with the prāsa are middling.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.7
तानि खड्गजघन्यानि बाहुप्रत्यवराणि च धनुर्वेदे गुरुर्विप्रः प्रोक्तो वर्णद्वयस्य च
tāni khaḍgajaghanyāni bāhupratyavarāṇi ca dhanurvede gururvipraḥ prokto varṇadvayasya ca
Those with the sword are the lowest, and those with the arms are the very worst; in the science of archery the brahmin is said to be the teacher of the two (other) classes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.8
युद्धाधिकारः शूद्रस्य स्वयं व्यापादि शिक्षया देशस्थैः शङ्करै राज्ञः कार्या युद्धे सहायता
yuddhādhikāraḥ śūdrasya svayaṃ vyāpādi śikṣayā deśasthaiḥ śaṅkarai rājñaḥ kāryā yuddhe sahāyatā
The śūdra has the right to fight (only) by himself, being one who kills through training; and by the mixed castes dwelling in the country help is to be given to the king in war.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.9
अङ्गुष्ठगुल्फपाण्यङ्घ्यः श्लिष्टाः स्युः सहिता यदि दृष्टं समपदं स्थानमेतल्लक्षणतस् तथा
aṅguṣṭhagulphapāṇyaṅghyaḥ śliṣṭāḥ syuḥ sahitā yadi dṛṣṭaṃ samapadaṃ sthānametallakṣaṇatas tathā
If the thumbs, ankles, hands and feet are pressed together and joined, that posture is seen, by its defining mark, to be the samapada ('even-footed').
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.10
वाह्याङ्गुलिस्थितौ पादौ स्तब्धजानुबलावुभौ ।अप्_२४८।०१०बत्रिवितस्त्यन्तरास्थानमेतद्वैशाखमुच्यते
vāhyāṅgulisthitau pādau stabdhajānubalāvubhau /ap_248.010batrivitastyantarāsthānametadvaiśākhamucyate
When both feet stand turned outward at the toes and both legs have the knees held stiff, with an interval of three spans, this posture is called vaiśākha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.11
हंसपङ्क्त्याकृतिसमे दृश्येते यत्र जानुनी चतुर्वितस्तिविच्छिन्ने तदेतन्मण्डलं स्मृतं
haṃsapaṅktyākṛtisame dṛśyete yatra jānunī caturvitastivicchinne tadetanmaṇḍalaṃ smṛtaṃ
That in which the two knees are seen alike in the shape of a line of geese, separated by four spans, is remembered as maṇḍala.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.12
हलाकृतिमयं यच्च स्तब्धजानूरुदक्षिणं वितस्त्यः पञ्च विस्तारे तदालीढं प्रकीर्तितं
halākṛtimayaṃ yacca stabdhajānūrudakṣiṇaṃ vitastyaḥ pañca vistāre tadālīḍhaṃ prakīrtitaṃ
And that which has the form of a plough, with the right knee and thigh held stiff, five spans in extent, is declared to be ālīḍha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.13
एतदेव विपर्यस्तं प्रत्यालीढमिति स्मृतं(१) तिर्यग्भूतो भवेद्वामो दक्षिणो ऽपि भवेदृजुः
etadeva viparyastaṃ pratyālīḍhamiti smṛtaṃ(1) tiryagbhūto bhavedvāmo dakṣiṇo 'pi bhavedṛjuḥ
This very same reversed is remembered as pratyālīḍha: the left (leg) should be set crosswise, and the right should be straight.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.14
गुल्फौ पार्ष्णिग्रहौ चैव स्थितौ पञ्चाङ्गुलान्तरौ :न् १ प्रत्यालीढं प्रकीर्तितमिति ज॥ :प् ३९७ स्थानं जातं भवेदेतद् द्वादशाङ्गुलमायतं
gulphau pārṣṇigrahau caiva sthitau pañcāṅgulāntarau :n 1 pratyālīḍhaṃ prakīrtitamiti ja.. :p 397 sthānaṃ jātaṃ bhavedetad dvādaśāṅgulamāyataṃ
And the ankles and the heels stand five fingers apart: this posture, when it comes about, is twelve fingers in extent.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.15
ऋजुजानुर्भवेद्वामो दक्षिणः सुप्रसारितः अथवा दक्षिणञ्जानु कुब्जं भवति निश् चलं
ṛjujānurbhavedvāmo dakṣiṇaḥ suprasāritaḥ athavā dakṣiṇañjānu kubjaṃ bhavati niś calaṃ
The left (leg) should have the knee straight, the right well extended; or else the right knee is bent and motionless.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.16
दण्डायतो भवेदेष चरणः सह जानुना एवं विकटमुद्दिष्टं द्विहस्तान्तरमायतं
daṇḍāyato bhavedeṣa caraṇaḥ saha jānunā evaṃ vikaṭamuddiṣṭaṃ dvihastāntaramāyataṃ
This foot, together with the knee, should be extended like a staff; thus is taught the vikaṭa, extending two cubits' distance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.17
जानुनी द्विगुणे स्यातामुत्तानौ चरणावुभौ अनेन विधियोगेन सम्पुटं परिकीर्तितं
jānunī dviguṇe syātāmuttānau caraṇāvubhau anena vidhiyogena sampuṭaṃ parikīrtitaṃ
The two knees should be doubled up and both feet turned upward; by the application of this rule the sampuṭa is declared.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.18
किञ्चिद्विवर्तितौ पादौ समदण्डायतौ स्थिरौ दृष्टमेव यथान्यायं षोडशाङ्गुलमायतं
kiñcidvivartitau pādau samadaṇḍāyatau sthirau dṛṣṭameva yathānyāyaṃ ṣoḍaśāṅgulamāyataṃ
The two feet somewhat turned, extended evenly like a staff and steady — this is seen, according to rule, as sixteen fingers in extent.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.19
स्वस्तिकेनात्र कुर्वीत प्रणामं प्रथमं द्विज कामुकं गृह्य वामेन वाणं दक्षिणकेन तु
svastikenātra kurvīta praṇāmaṃ prathamaṃ dvija kāmukaṃ gṛhya vāmena vāṇaṃ dakṣiṇakena tu
Here, O twice-born, one should first make obeisance in the svastika (posture), taking the bow with the left (hand) and the arrow with the right.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.20
वैशाखे यदि वा जाते स्थितौ वाप्यथवायतौ गुणान्तन्तु ततः कृत्वा कार्मुके प्रियकार्मुकः
vaiśākhe yadi vā jāte sthitau vāpyathavāyatau guṇāntantu tataḥ kṛtvā kārmuke priyakārmukaḥ
Then, whether he is in the vaiśākha stance or in the (other) postures or extended ones, he who is fond of the bow, having placed the end of the string on the bow...
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.21
अधःकटिन्तु धनुषः फलदेशन्तु पत्रिणः धरण्यां स्थापयित्वा तु तोलयित्वा तथैव च
adhaḥkaṭintu dhanuṣaḥ phaladeśantu patriṇaḥ dharaṇyāṃ sthāpayitvā tu tolayitvā tathaiva ca
...having set on the ground the lower waist-part of the bow and the blade-part of the arrow, and having balanced (them) likewise,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.22
भुजाभ्यामत्र कुञ्जाभ्यां प्रकोष्ठाभ्यां शुभव्रत यस्य वाणं धनुः श्रेष्ठं पुङ्गदेशे च पत्रिणः
bhujābhyāmatra kuñjābhyāṃ prakoṣṭhābhyāṃ śubhavrata yasya vāṇaṃ dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ puṅgadeśe ca patriṇaḥ
here, O you of good vows, with the arms, with the bent (elbows), and with the forearms — he whose arrow and bow are excellent — and at the nock-part of the arrow,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.23
विन्यासो धनुश् चैव द्वादशाङ्गुलमन्तरं ज्यया विशिष्टः कर्तव्यो नातिहीनो न चाधिकः
vinyāso dhanuś caiva dvādaśāṅgulamantaraṃ jyayā viśiṣṭaḥ kartavyo nātihīno na cādhikaḥ
the placing of the bow should be at an interval of twelve fingers, and it should be made properly (strung) with the bowstring, neither too slack nor too taut.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.24
निवेश्य कार्मुकं नभ्यां नितम्बे शरसङ्करं उत्क्षिपेदुत्थितं हस्तमन्तरेणाक्षिकर्णयोः
niveśya kārmukaṃ nabhyāṃ nitambe śarasaṅkaraṃ utkṣipedutthitaṃ hastamantareṇākṣikarṇayoḥ
Having set the bow at the navel, with the mass of arrows at the hip, he should raise the lifted hand up between the eye and the ear.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.25
पूर्वेण मुष्टिना ग्राह्यस्तनाग्रे दक्षिणे शरः हरणन्तु ततः कृत्वा शीघ्रं पूर्वं प्रसारयेत्
pūrveṇa muṣṭinā grāhyastanāgre dakṣiṇe śaraḥ haraṇantu tataḥ kṛtvā śīghraṃ pūrvaṃ prasārayet
The arrow is to be grasped with the forward fist at the tip of the right breast; then, having made the drawing-back, he should quickly extend the forward (hand).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.26
:प् ३९८ नाभ्यन्तरा नैव वाह्या नोर्ध्वका नाधरा तथा न च कुब्जा न चोत्ताना न चला नातिवेष्टिता
:p 398 nābhyantarā naiva vāhyā nordhvakā nādharā tathā na ca kubjā na cottānā na calā nātiveṣṭitā
(The bow-arm should be) neither turned inward nor outward, neither raised nor lowered, not bent forward nor bent back, not shaking, not excessively twisted.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.27
समा स्थैर्यगुणोपेता पूर्वदण्डमिव स्थिता छादयित्वा ततो लक्ष्यं पूर्वेणानेन मुष्टिना
samā sthairyaguṇopetā pūrvadaṇḍamiva sthitā chādayitvā tato lakṣyaṃ pūrveṇānena muṣṭinā
Even, endowed with the quality of steadiness, held like the forward staff — then, having covered the target with this forward fist,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.28
उरसा तूत्थितो यन्ता त्रिकोणविनतस्थितः स्रस्तांशे निश् चलग्रीवो मयूराञ्चितमस्तकः
urasā tūtthito yantā trikoṇavinatasthitaḥ srastāṃśe niś calagrīvo mayūrāñcitamastakaḥ
the archer, raised up with the chest, standing bent in a triangle, with the shoulder let down, the neck motionless, the head held up like a peacock's,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.29
ललाटनासावक्त्रांसाः कुर्युरश्वसमम्भवेत् अन्तरं त्र्यङ्गुलं ज्ञेयं चिवुकस्यांसकस्य च
lalāṭanāsāvaktrāṃsāḥ kuryuraśvasamambhavet antaraṃ tryaṅgulaṃ jñeyaṃ civukasyāṃsakasya ca
they should make the forehead, nose, face and shoulders — and there should be no breathing; the gap between the chin and the shoulder is to be known as three fingerbreadths.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.30
प्रथमन्त्र्यङ्गुलं ज्ञेयं द्वितीये द्व्यङ्गुलं स्मृतं तृतीये ऽङ्गुलमुदिष्टमायतञ्चिवुकांसयोः
prathamantryaṅgulaṃ jñeyaṃ dvitīye dvyaṅgulaṃ smṛtaṃ tṛtīye 'ṅgulamudiṣṭamāyatañcivukāṃsayoḥ
In the first (case) three fingerbreadths are to be known, in the second two fingerbreadths are held (proper), in the third one fingerbreadth is prescribed as the distance of the chin and the shoulder.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.31
गृहीत्वा सायकं पुङ्खात्तर्जन्याङ्गुष्ठकेन तु अनामया पुनर्गृह्य तथा मध्यमयापि च
gṛhītvā sāyakaṃ puṅkhāttarjanyāṅguṣṭhakena tu anāmayā punargṛhya tathā madhyamayāpi ca
Having grasped the arrow at the nock with the forefinger and the thumb, then taking hold again with the ring finger and likewise also with the middle finger,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.32
तावदाकर्षयेद्वेगाद्यावद्वाणः सुपूरितः एवं विधमुपक्रम्य मोक्तव्यं विधिवत् खगं
tāvadākarṣayedvegādyāvadvāṇaḥ supūritaḥ evaṃ vidhamupakramya moktavyaṃ vidhivat khagaṃ
he should draw with force just so far until the arrow is fully drawn; having proceeded in this manner, the flying (arrow) is to be released according to the rule.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.33
दृष्टिमुष्टिहतं लक्ष्यं भिन्द्याद्वाणेन सुव्रतः मुक्त्वा तु(१) पश्चिमं हस्तं क्षिपेद्वेगेन पृष्ठतः
dṛṣṭimuṣṭihataṃ lakṣyaṃ bhindyādvāṇena suvrataḥ muktvā tu(1) paścimaṃ hastaṃ kṣipedvegena pṛṣṭhataḥ
The man of good discipline should pierce with the arrow the target that has been struck by sight and by fist; and having released, he should fling the rear hand back with force.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.34
एतदुच्छेदमिच्छन्ति ज्ञातव्यं हि त्वया द्विज कूर्परन्तदधः कार्यमाकृष्य तु धनुष्मता
etaducchedamicchanti jñātavyaṃ hi tvayā dvija kūrparantadadhaḥ kāryamākṛṣya tu dhanuṣmatā
This they call the 'cutting-off' (release), and it is to be known by you, O twice-born; the elbow is to be kept below it by the bowman when he has drawn.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.35
ऊर्ध्वं विमुक्तके कार्ये लक्षश्लिष्टन्तु मध्यमं श्रेष्ठं प्रकृष्टं विज्ञेयंधनुःशास्त्रविशारदैः
ūrdhvaṃ vimuktake kārye lakṣaśliṣṭantu madhyamaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ prakṛṣṭaṃ vijñeyaṃdhanuḥśāstraviśāradaiḥ
When the release goes upward it is to be reckoned (a fault); (a shot) sticking to the target is middling; the best, the excellent, is to be known by those skilled in the science of the bow.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 248.36
ज्येष्ठस्तु सायको ज्ञेयो भवेद्द्वादशमुष्टयः :न् १ त्यक्त्वा इति ज॥ :प् ३९९ एकादश तथा कनीयान्दशमुष्टयः
jyeṣṭhastu sāyako jñeyo bhaveddvādaśamuṣṭayaḥ :n 1 tyaktvā iti ja.. :p 399 ekādaśa tathā kanīyāndaśamuṣṭayaḥ
The longest arrow is to be known as twelve fists; the middling eleven, and the shorter ten fists.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.37
चतुर्हस्तं धनुः श्रेष्ठं त्रयः सार्धन्तु मध्यमं कनीयस्तु त्रयः प्रोक्तं नित्यमेव पदातिनः
caturhastaṃ dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ trayaḥ sārdhantu madhyamaṃ kanīyastu trayaḥ proktaṃ nityameva padātinaḥ
A bow of four cubits is best, of three and a half middling, and three is said to be the smaller — always for the foot-soldier.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 248.38
अश्वे रथे गजे श्रेष्ठे तदेव परिकीर्तितं ॥३८
aśve rathe gaje śreṣṭhe tadeva parikīrtitaṃ //38
For (a warrior) on a horse, in a chariot, or on an elephant, that very best (bow) is declared. (38)
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition