Let us contemplate the auspicious marks and attributes, as revealed in the sacred scripture, beginning with the form of an ideal man. His chest, armpits, mouth, and nose stand out with prominence, while his face is rounded and pleasing to behold. The skin, hair, and teeth are smooth, and so too are his hair, gaze, nails, and speech—each marked by a gentle refinement. Upon his knees and thighs, there appear two bamboo-like ridges at the back, and the openings of his eyes, nostrils, ears, genitals, and anus are all pure and unsullied. Ten features of his form are praised as lotus-like: the tongue, lips, palate, eyes, hands, feet, nails, the tip of the penis, and the mouth—all radiant and beautiful, as if blossoming with divine grace. His hands and feet are delightful to the touch and sight, while his neck, ears, heart, head, forehead, abdomen, and back are revered as ten honored parts of the body. When he stretches out his arms, the span from fingertip to fingertip equals his own height, forming a circle like the mighty banyan tree. The feet, ankles, hips, sides, groins, testicles, breasts, ears, lips, thighs, calves, hands, arms, and eyes are found in pairs—fourteen in all—generally present in men. And just as there are fourteen pairs in the body, so too are there those who see the fourteen sciences, each with two syllables, and are thus called “one with sixteen syllables.” Even a body that appears rough, scattered, or inauspicious—lacking flesh or bearing a contrary odor—can be praised when observed with a clear and discerning gaze. His speech is sweet, and his gait is proud and steady, resembling an elephant in its majesty. The hair on his body grows singly from each pore, and he offers protection in times of fear, time and again. Turning to women, Samudra spoke of the auspicious marks of a blessed woman. She has beautiful limbs and walks with the stately grace of a proud elephant. Her hips are full and heavy, and her eyes are lovely, reminiscent of a proud pigeon’s gaze. Her hair is beautiful, her limbs slender, and her fine body hair adds to her charm. Her feet touch the ground evenly, and her breasts are close together, signifying beauty and auspiciousness. Her navel turns to the right, her genitals are shaped like the leaf of a fig tree, and her ankles are hidden. The navel is precisely at the midpoint between the thumb and middle finger when measured. Conversely, a woman whose belly protrudes, whose breasts hang low, or whose skin is rough and leathery is not considered attractive. Nor is she who bears the names of animals, trees, or rivers, or who is fond of quarrels. An auspicious woman is not greedy, nor does she speak harshly. She is worshipped by gods and mortals alike. She does not have swollen cheeks or lips, nor a large head, nor is she excessively hairy. Her eyebrows are not joined or crooked. She regards her husband as her very life and is dear to him. Even if she lacks the traditional marks of fortune, she is to be considered fortunate—for where there is good form, there are virtues. Now, listen to the sacred implements and weapons as described by Agni. The best fly-whisk bears a golden handle, and the royal umbrella is crafted with feathers of the swan, peacock, or parrot. The umbrella should never be made with crane feathers or with a mixture of various feathers. For a Brahmin, the umbrella is four-sided; for a king, it is round and white. The staff may have three to eight joints, and the most auspicious seat is made from milky trees, standing fifty finger-breadths high and three hand-spans wide, adorned with gold and precious materials. The three materials for bows are iron, horn, and wood. The bowstring is made from bamboo, sinew, or hide. The finest wooden bow measures four hand-spans, with lesser lengths for middling and lower types. The grip is fashioned in the middle, using suitable materials. The horn tip of the bow should be small and covered with skin. In bows made of horn and iron, the tip is shaped like a woman’s eyebrow and fitted well. The iron bow may be made separately or mixed with other materials, always adorned with golden dots. Bows that are crooked, split, or perforated are not praised. Bows may be crafted from gold, silver, copper, or black iron, and the finest are made from buffalo, śārabha, or horse horn, or from sandalwood, cane, sāl, or the white aṅgaku tree. The very best bow is made from bamboo grown at home and harvested in autumn. Such a bow, worshipped with sword-mantras that enchant the three worlds, is most auspicious. Arrows, whether made from iron, bamboo, or other materials, should be straight, golden in color, bound with sinew, and well-feathered. Arrows with golden feathers are the best, and they must be well-oiled and feathered. At the start of a journey or consecration, oblations are offered to the arrowheads. The king should perform worship with banners, weapons, and annual offerings, as Brahmā himself did on the summit of Meru and the banks of the heavenly Ganges. There, Brahmā saw the iron demon, an obstacle to the sacrifice. As he pondered, a mighty man arose from the fire. The gods bowed to the Unborn One, welcoming him with delight. From him, the sword Nandaka, proclaimed by the gods, was taken up by Hari (Viṣṇu). Hari slowly grasped the sword, and as he drew it forth, it appeared blue in hue with a jeweled hilt. Thus arose the hundred-armed demon. That demon drove the gods away in battle with his mace, but Viṣṇu, wielding Nandaka, cut the demon’s limbs upon the earth. The severed limbs, struck by the sword, fell and became iron. Having slain the demon, Hari granted him a boon: he bestowed upon him a pure and auspicious body, so that he would become a weapon on earth. By Hari’s favor, even Brahmā, unimpeded, worshipped Hari, the Lord, with sacrifice. Now, hear of the sixfold characteristics of weapons. Those born from the anvil and hammer, pleasing to behold, are considered auspicious. Swords that cut the body are called Ārṣika, strong and arising from the sūrpāraka region. Those from Vaṅga are sharp and able to withstand cutting, and those from the Aṅga region are also sharp. The best sword measures one and a half fingers in width; half that is middling, and less should not be worn. A sword that is long and has a sweet sound, like the jingling of bells, is considered excellent. The tip of a praised sword resembles a lotus petal or a circle, with the appearance of an oleander leaf, the fragrance of clarified butter, and the radiance of the sky. Thus, the auspicious marks of men and women, the sacred implements, and the divine origins of weapons are revealed, each bearing witness to the profound wisdom and beauty of Sanātana Dharma.