Agni Purana — Chapter 251
AgP 251.1
:ए इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे धनुर्वेदो नाम पञ्चाशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः ॥ :न् १ वर्मवेष्टिते इति घ॥ २ ज्ञात्वेति ट॥ :प् ४०३ छप्तेर् {२५१} :श् अथैकपञ्चाशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः धनुर्वेदकथनं अग्निर् उवाच भ्रान्तमुद्भ्रान्तमाविद्धमाप्लुतं विप्लुतं सृतं सम्पातं समुदीशञ्च श्येनपातमथाकुलं
:e ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe dhanurvedo nāma pañcāśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ || :n 1 varmaveṣṭite iti gha.. 2 jñātveti ṭa.. :p 403 chapter {251} :ś athaikapañcāśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dhanurvedakathanaṃ agnir uvāca bhrāntamudbhrāntamāviddhamāplutaṃ viplutaṃ sṛtaṃ sampātaṃ samudīśañca śyenapātamathākulaṃ
Thus in the Āgneya Mahāpurāṇa the chapter called "The Science of Archery," the two hundred and fiftieth. [Variants: 1: 'varmaveṣṭite' in MS gha; 2: 'jñātvā' in MS ṭa. p. 403, chapter 251] Now the two hundred and fifty-first chapter: the exposition of the science of archery. Agni said: bhrānta (roving), udbhrānta (roving upward), āviddha (pierced), ābhuta (leapt up), vipluta (leapt away), sṛta (glided), sampāta (falling together), samudīśa (upward aim), and śyenapāta (hawk's swoop), and then ākula (confused) —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.2
उद्धूतमवधूतञ्च सव्यं दक्षिणमेव च अनालक्षितविस्फोटौ करालेन्द्रमहासखौ(१)
uddhūtamavadhūtañca savyaṃ dakṣiṇameva ca anālakṣitavisphoṭau karālendramahāsakhau(1)
uddhūta (shaken up) and avadhūta (shaken off), savya (left) and dakṣiṇa (right), anālakṣita (unobserved) and visphoṭa (bursting), karāla and indramahāsakha,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.3
विकरालनिपातौ च विभीषणभयानकौ समग्रार्धतृतीयांशपादपादर्धवारिजाः
vikarālanipātau ca vibhīṣaṇabhayānakau samagrārdhatṛtīyāṃśapādapādardhavārijāḥ
and vikarāla and nipāta, vibhīṣaṇa and bhayānaka; (also those named from) the whole, the half, the third part, the quarter, and the eighth (turn), and the vārija,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.4
प्रत्यालीढमथालीढं वराहं लुलितन्तथा इति द्वात्रिंशतो ज्ञेयाः खड्गचर्मविधौ रणे
pratyālīḍhamathālīḍhaṃ varāhaṃ lulitantathā iti dvātriṃśato jñeyāḥ khaḍgacarmavidhau raṇe
pratyālīḍha and then ālīḍha, varāha (boar) and likewise lulita: thus thirty-two are to be known in the practice of sword and shield in battle.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.5
परावृत्तमपावृत्तं गृहीतं लघुसञ्ज्ञितं ऊर्ध्वात् क्षिप्तमधः क्षिप्तं सन्धारितविधारितं
parāvṛttamapāvṛttaṃ gṛhītaṃ laghusañjñitaṃ ūrdhvāt kṣiptamadhaḥ kṣiptaṃ sandhāritavidhāritaṃ
parāvṛtta (turned round) and apāvṛtta (turned away), gṛhīta (seized), that called laghu (light), cast from above and cast from below, sandhārita (held together) and vidhārita (held apart),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.6
श्येनपातं गजपातं ग्राहग्राह्यन्तथैव च एवमेकादशविधा ज्ञेयाः पाशविधा नराः
śyenapātaṃ gajapātaṃ grāhagrāhyantathaiva ca evamekādaśavidhā jñeyāḥ pāśavidhā narāḥ
śyenapāta (hawk's swoop), gajapāta (elephant's fall), and likewise grāhagrāhya (the seizing of the seizer) — thus the modes of the noose are to be known as elevenfold.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.7
ऋज्वायतं विशालञ्च तिर्यग्भ्रामितमेव च पञ्चकर्म विनिर्दिष्टं व्यस्ते पाशे महात्मभिः
ṛjvāyataṃ viśālañca tiryagbhrāmitameva ca pañcakarma vinirdiṣṭaṃ vyaste pāśe mahātmabhiḥ
Straight-extended, wide, and swung crosswise: a fivefold operation has been laid down by the great ones for the noose when thrown apart.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.8
छेदनं भेदनं पातो भ्रमणं शयनं(२) तथा विकर्तनं कर्तनञ्च चक्रकर्मेदमेव च
chedanaṃ bhedanaṃ pāto bhramaṇaṃ śayanaṃ(2) tathā vikartanaṃ kartanañca cakrakarmedameva ca
Cutting, splitting, dropping, whirling, and likewise laying to rest, tearing apart and shearing: this indeed is the operation of the discus.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.9
आस्फोटः क्षेडनं भेदस्त्रासान्दोलितकौ तथा :न् १ करालेन्द्रमहारवाविति क॥ , ज॥ , ट॥ च २ शमनमिति घ॥ , ज॥ , ट॥ च :प् ४०४ शूलकर्माणि जानीहि षष्ठमाघातसञ्ज्ञितं
āsphoṭaḥ kṣeḍanaṃ bhedastrāsāndolitakau tathā :n 1 karālendramahāravāviti ka.. , ja.. , ṭa.. ca 2 śamanamiti gha.. , ja.. , ṭa.. ca :p 404 śūlakarmāṇi jānīhi ṣaṣṭhamāghātasañjñitaṃ
Slapping, hurling, splitting, terrifying, and swinging — know (these as) the operations of the spear, the sixth being called the strike.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.10
दृष्टिघातं भुजाघातं पार्श्वघातं द्विजोत्तम ऋजुपक्षेषुणा पातं तोमरस्य प्रकीर्तितं
dṛṣṭighātaṃ bhujāghātaṃ pārśvaghātaṃ dvijottama ṛjupakṣeṣuṇā pātaṃ tomarasya prakīrtitaṃ
The strike at the eye, the strike at the arm, the strike at the flank, O best of the twice-born; the fall with a straight-feathered shaft is declared (the operation) of the lance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.11
आहतं विप्र गोमूत्रप्रभूतङ्कमलासनं ततोर्ध्वगात्रं नमितं वामदक्षिणमेव च
āhataṃ vipra gomūtraprabhūtaṅkamalāsanaṃ tatordhvagātraṃ namitaṃ vāmadakṣiṇameva ca
Struck, O brahmin, the cow's-urine (zigzag), the abundant, the lotus-seat, and thereafter the upraised body, the bent, and the left and the right,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.12
आवृत्तञ्च परावृत्तं पादोद्धूतमप्लुतं हंसमर्दं विमर्दञ्च(१) गदाकर्म प्रकीर्तितं
āvṛttañca parāvṛttaṃ pādoddhūtamaplutaṃ haṃsamardaṃ vimardañca(1) gadākarma prakīrtitaṃ
and turned round and turned away, foot-raised and leapt; the goose-crush and the crush: (thus) the operation of the mace is declared.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.13
करालमवघातञ्च दशोपप्लुतमेव च क्षिप्तहस्तं स्थितं शून्यं पराशोस्तु विनिर्दिशेत्
karālamavaghātañca daśopaplutameva ca kṣiptahastaṃ sthitaṃ śūnyaṃ parāśostu vinirdiśet
the terrible, the downward blow, and the tenfold leaping-up, the hand-thrown, the stationary, the empty — these one should specify for the axe.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.14
ताडनं छेदनं विप्र तथा चूर्णनमेव च मुद्गरस्य तु कर्माणि तथा प्लवनघातनं
tāḍanaṃ chedanaṃ vipra tathā cūrṇanameva ca mudgarasya tu karmāṇi tathā plavanaghātanaṃ
Striking, cutting, and likewise pulverizing, O brahmin — these are the actions of the mudgara (mallet), and also the leaping blow.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 251.15
संश्रान्तमथ विश्रान्तं गोविसर्गं सुदुर्धरं भिन्दिपालस्य कर्माणि लगुडस्य च तान्यपि
saṃśrāntamatha viśrāntaṃ govisargaṃ sudurdharaṃ bhindipālasya karmāṇi laguḍasya ca tānyapi
'Wearied', then 'rested', 'cow's release', 'very hard to withstand' — these are the actions of the bhindipāla (a javelin-like missile), and they belong to the club (laguḍa) as well.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.16
अन्त्यं मध्यं परावृत्तं निदेशान्तं द्विजोत्तम वज्रस्येतानि कर्माणि पट्टिशस्य च तान्यपि
antyaṃ madhyaṃ parāvṛttaṃ nideśāntaṃ dvijottama vajrasyetāni karmāṇi paṭṭiśasya ca tānyapi
'Last', 'middle', 'turned about', 'ending in a signal', O best of the twice-born — these are the actions of the vajra, and they belong to the paṭṭiśa (spear/axe) too.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.17
हरणं छेदनं घातो बलोद्धारणमायतं कृपाणकर्म निर्दिष्टं पातनं स्फोटनं तथा
haraṇaṃ chedanaṃ ghāto baloddhāraṇamāyataṃ kṛpāṇakarma nirdiṣṭaṃ pātanaṃ sphoṭanaṃ tathā
Carrying off, cutting, the strike, forcible wrenching out, the extended (stroke) — such is declared the action of the sword, and likewise felling and splitting apart.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.18
त्रासनं रक्षणं घातो बलोद्धरणमायतम् क्षेपणीकर्म निर्दिष्टं यन्त्रकर्मैतदेव तु
trāsanaṃ rakṣaṇaṃ ghāto baloddharaṇamāyatam kṣepaṇīkarma nirdiṣṭaṃ yantrakarmaitadeva tu
Terrifying, guarding, the strike, forcible wrenching out, the extended (stroke) — this is declared the action of the kṣepaṇī (sling), and this same is the action of the (missile-)engine.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.19
सन्त्यागमवदंशश् च वराहोद्धूतकं तथा हस्तावहस्तमालीनमेकहस्तस्तावहस्तके
santyāgamavadaṃśaś ca varāhoddhūtakaṃ tathā hastāvahastamālīnamekahastastāvahastake
'Complete release' and 'downward bite', likewise 'the boar's toss up', 'hand-and-off-hand', 'clinging', 'one-hand', and 'that-off-hand'.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.20
द्विहस्तवाहुपाशे च कटिरेचितकोद्गते :न् १ हंसमार्गं विमार्गञ्चेति घ॥ , ञ॥ च । समार्गञ्च विमार्गञ्चेति ट॥ :प् ४०५ उरोललाटघाते च भुजाविधमनन्तथा
dvihastavāhupāśe ca kaṭirecitakodgate :n 1 haṃsamārgaṃ vimārgañceti gha.. , ña.. ca / samārgañca vimārgañceti ṭa.. :p 405 urolalāṭaghāte ca bhujāvidhamanantathā
And 'two-hand', 'arm-noose', 'hip-flourish' and 'risen up'; and the blows to the chest and to the forehead, and likewise the piercing of the arms.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.21
करोद्धूतं विमानञ्च पादाहति विपादिकं गात्रसंश्लेषणं शान्तं तथा गात्रविपर्ययः
karoddhūtaṃ vimānañca pādāhati vipādikaṃ gātrasaṃśleṣaṇaṃ śāntaṃ tathā gātraviparyayaḥ
'Raised by the hand' and 'the measureless', 'foot-strike', 'off-foot', 'the clasping of the limbs', 'the quiet one', and likewise 'reversal of the limbs'.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.22
ऊर्ध्वप्रहारं घातञ्च गोमूत्रं सव्यदक्षिणे पारन्तारकं दण्डं(१) करवीरन्धमाकुलं
ūrdhvaprahāraṃ ghātañca gomūtraṃ savyadakṣiṇe pārantārakaṃ daṇḍaṃ(1) karavīrandhamākulaṃ
'Upward blow' and 'the strike', 'cow's urine (zigzag)', 'left and right', 'pārantāraka', 'the staff', 'karavīra-piercing', 'the confused'.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.23
तिर्यग्बन्धमपामार्गं(२) भीमवेगं सुदर्शनं सिंहाक्रान्तं गजाक्रान्तं गर्दभाक्रान्तमेव च
tiryagbandhamapāmārgaṃ(2) bhīmavegaṃ sudarśanaṃ siṃhākrāntaṃ gajākrāntaṃ gardabhākrāntameva ca
'Crosswise binding', 'the counter-course', 'fearsome speed', 'fair to see', 'the lion's onset', 'the elephant's onset', and 'the ass's onset'.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.24
गदाकर्माणि जानीयान्नियुद्धस्याथ कर्म च आकर्षणं विकर्षणञ्च बाहूनां मूलमेव च
gadākarmāṇi jānīyānniyuddhasyātha karma ca ākarṣaṇaṃ vikarṣaṇañca bāhūnāṃ mūlameva ca
These one should know as the actions of the mace. Now the action of close combat (wrestling): dragging toward, dragging apart, and (seizing) the very root of the arms;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
AgP 251.25
ग्रीवाविपरिवर्तञ्च पृष्ठभङ्गं सुदारुणं पर्यासनविपर्यासौ पशुमारमजाविकं
grīvāviparivartañca pṛṣṭhabhaṅgaṃ sudāruṇaṃ paryāsanaviparyāsau paśumāramajāvikaṃ
and the twisting round of the neck, the very cruel breaking of the back, throwing down and reversal, the 'cattle-kill', the 'goat-and-sheep';
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.26
पादप्रहारमास्फोटं कटिरेचितकन्तथा गात्राश्लेषं स्कन्धगतं महीव्याजनमेव च
pādaprahāramāsphoṭaṃ kaṭirecitakantathā gātrāśleṣaṃ skandhagataṃ mahīvyājanameva ca
the foot-blow, the slapping, likewise the hip-flourish, the clasping of the limbs, going onto the shoulder, and the 'earth-fanning'.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.27
उरोललाटघातञ्च विस्पष्टकरणन्तथा उद्धूतमवधूतञ्च तिर्यङ्मार्गगतं तथा
urolalāṭaghātañca vispaṣṭakaraṇantathā uddhūtamavadhūtañca tiryaṅmārgagataṃ tathā
And the blow to the chest and forehead, and likewise 'the making plain', 'tossed up' and 'shaken off', and likewise 'going by the crosswise path'.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.28
गजस्कन्धमवक्षेपमपराङ्मुखमेव च देवमार्गमधोमार्गममार्गगमनाकुलं
gajaskandhamavakṣepamaparāṅmukhameva ca devamārgamadhomārgamamārgagamanākulaṃ
'Elephant's shoulder', 'throwing down', and 'facing away', 'the divine path', 'the downward path', 'the confused going by no path'.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.29
यष्टिघातमवक्षेपो वसुधादारणन्तथा जानुबन्धं भुजाबन्धं सुदारुणं
yaṣṭighātamavakṣepo vasudhādāraṇantathā jānubandhaṃ bhujābandhaṃ sudāruṇaṃ
'Staff-blow', 'the throwing down', likewise 'the splitting of the earth', 'the knee-bind', 'the arm-bind', the very cruel (one).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.30
विपृष्ठं सोदकं शुभ्रं भुजावेष्टितमेव च सन्नद्धैः संयुगे भाव्यं सशस्त्रैस्तैर् गजादिभिः
vipṛṣṭhaṃ sodakaṃ śubhraṃ bhujāveṣṭitameva ca sannaddhaiḥ saṃyuge bhāvyaṃ saśastraistair gajādibhiḥ
'Turned-back', 'with water', 'the bright one', and 'encircled by the arms'. In battle one must operate with those elephants and the rest, harnessed and equipped with weapons.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.31
वराङ्कुशधरौ चोभौ एको ग्रीवागतो ऽपरः :न् १ पारकं तारकं गण्डमिति ख॥ , घ॥ च २ तिर्यगूर्ध्वमपामार्गमिति घ॥ , ञ॥ च :प् ४०६ स्कन्धौ द्वौ च धानुष्कौ द्वौ च खड्गधरौ गजे
varāṅkuśadharau cobhau eko grīvāgato 'paraḥ :n 1 pārakaṃ tārakaṃ gaṇḍamiti kha.. , gha.. ca 2 tiryagūrdhvamapāmārgamiti gha.. , ña.. ca :p 406 skandhau dvau ca dhānuṣkau dvau ca khaḍgadharau gaje
And both bearing the excellent goad, one seated at the neck, the other (behind); and two at the shoulders, and two bowmen and two sword-bearers on the elephant.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.32
रथे रणे गजे चैव तुरगाणां त्रयं भवेत् धानुष्काणान्त्रयं प्रोक्तं रक्षार्थे तुरगस्य च
rathe raṇe gaje caiva turagāṇāṃ trayaṃ bhavet dhānuṣkāṇāntrayaṃ proktaṃ rakṣārthe turagasya ca
On a chariot, in battle, and on an elephant there should be a set of three horses; and a set of three bowmen is prescribed for the protection of the horse.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.33
धन्विनो रक्षणार्थाय चर्मिणन्तु(१) नियोजयेत् स्वमन्त्रैः शस्त्रमभ्यर्च्य शास्त्रन्त्रैलोक्यमोहनं
dhanvino rakṣaṇārthāya carmiṇantu(1) niyojayet svamantraiḥ śastramabhyarcya śāstrantrailokyamohanaṃ
For the protection of the archer one should station a shield-bearer. Having worshipped the weapon with its own mantras — the teaching that bewilders the three worlds —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
AgP 251.34
यो युद्धे याति च जयेदरीन् सम्पालयेद्भुवं ॥३४
yo yuddhe yāti ca jayedarīn sampālayedbhuvaṃ //34
He who goes into battle (thus) conquers his enemies and protects the earth. (34)
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition