Agni Purana

अग्निरुवाच चतुष्पादं धनुर्वेदं वदे पञ्चविधं द्विज । रथनागाश्वपत्तीनां योधांश्चाश्रित्य कीर्त्तितं ।। २४९.

Agni said: The Dhanurveda has four divisions, which I will describe as fivefold, based on warriors of chariots, elephants, horses, and infantry.

यन्त्रमुक्तं पाणिमुक्तं मुक्तसन्धारितं तथा । अमुक्तं बाहुयुद्धञ्च पञ्चधा तत् प्रकीर्त्तितं ।। २४९.

It is said to be fivefold: released by machines, released by hand, released and then held, not released, and hand-to-hand combat.

तत्र शस्त्रास्त्रसम्पत्त्या द्विविंधं परिकीर्त्तितं । ऋजुमायाविभेदेन भूयो द्विविधमुच्यते ।। २४९.

Among these, by the use of weapons and missiles, it is divided into two kinds; further, by direct and deceptive methods, it is again said to be twofold.

क्षेपणी चापयन्त्राद्यैर्यन्त्रमुक्तं प्रकीर्त्तितं । शिलातोमरयन्त्राद्यं पाणिमुक्तं प्रकीर्त्तितं ।। २४९.

That which is thrown by machines such as bows is called 'released by machine'; stones, spears, and similar weapons thrown by hand are called 'released by hand.'

मुक्तसन्धारितं ज्ञेयं प्रासाद्यमपि यद्भवेत् । खड्‌गादिकममुक्तञ्च नियुद्धं विगतायुधं ।। २४९.

That which is released and then held, such as spears, should be known as such; swords and similar weapons not released are for wrestling, which is without weapons.

कुर्य्याद्योग्यानि प्रात्राणि योद्‌धुमिच्छुर्ज्जितश्रमः । धनुःश्रेष्ठानि युद्धानि प्रासमध्यानि तानि च ।। २४९.

One who wishes to fight, having overcome fatigue, should practice the appropriate exercises; the best battles are with bows, those with spears are intermediate.

तानि खड्‌गजघन्यानि बाहुप्रत्यवराणि च । धनुर्वेदे गुरुर्विप्रः प्रोक्तो वर्णद्वयस्य च ।। २४९.

Those with swords are considered the lowest, and those with the arms are inferior to them; the teacher of Dhanurveda is said to be a learned Brahmin or Kṣatriya.

युद्धाधिकारः शूद्रस्य स्वयं व्यापादि शिक्षया । देशस्थैः शङ्गरै राज्ञः कार्य्या युद्धे सहायता ।। २४९.

A Śūdra may engage in battle only for self-defense or by royal command; in war, the king should be assisted by local warriors.

अह्गुष्ठगुल्फपाण्यङ्‌घ्र्यः श्लिष्टः स्युः सहिता यदि । दृष्टं समपदं स्थानमेतल्लक्षणतस्तथा ।। २४९.

If the thumbs, ankles, hands, and feet are joined together, this is called the 'equal-footed stance,' recognized by its characteristics.

वाह्याङ्गुलिस्थितौ पादौ स्तब्धजानुबलावुभौ । त्रिवतस्त्यन्तरास्थानमेतद्वैशाखमुच्यते ।। २४९.

When the feet are placed with the outer toes together, both knees firm and strong, and the stance is three spans apart, this is called the Vaiśākha position.

हंसपङ्‌क्त्याकृतिसमे दृश्येते यत्र जानुनी । चतुर्वितस्तिविच्छिन्ने तदे तन्मण्डलं स्मृतं ।। २४९.

Where the knees are seen aligned like the tracks of a swan, and separated by four spans, that is known as the Maṇḍala stance.

हलाकृतिमयं यच्च स्तब्धजानूरुदक्षिणं । वितस्त्यः पञ्च चविस्तारे तदालीढं प्रकीर्त्तितं ।। २४९.

That which is shaped like a plough, with the right knee and thigh rigid, and five spans in breadth, is called the Ālīḍha posture.

एतदेव विपर्य्यस्तं प्रत्यालीढमिति स्मृतं । तिर्य्यग्भूतो भवेद्वामो दक्षिणोऽपि भवेदृजुः ।। २४९.

This same posture, when reversed, is known as Pratyālīḍha; the left leg becomes horizontal, or the right leg may be straight.

गुल्फौ पार्ष्णिग्रहौ चैव स्थितौ पञ्चाङ्गुलान्त्रौ । स्थानं जातं भवेदेतद् द्वादशाङ्गुलमायतं ।। २४९.

With the ankles and heels firmly placed, and the five toes extended, this stance is established, measuring twelve finger-breadths in length.

ऋजुजानुर्भवेद्वामो दक्षिणः सुप्रसारितः । अथवा दक्षइणञ्जानु कुब्जं भवति निश्चलं ।। २४९.

The left knee should be straight, the right well extended; or, if the right knee is bent, it remains motionless and curved.

दण्डायतो भवेदेष चरणः सह जानुना । एवं विकटमुद्दिष्टं द्विहस्तान्तरमायतं ।। २४९.

This leg, together with the knee, should be stretched out like a staff; thus is described the Vikaṭa posture, extending two arm-lengths.

जानुनी द्विगुणे स्यातामुत्तानौ चरणावुभौ । अनेन विधियोगेन सम्पुटं परिकीर्त्तितं ।। २४९.

Both feet should be raised, with the knees doubled; by this method, the Sampuṭa posture is described.

किञ्चिद्विवर्त्तितौ पादौ समदण्डायतौ स्थिरौ । दृष्टमेव यथान्यायं षोडशाङ्गुलमायतं ।। २४९.

The feet are turned slightly outward, steady and aligned like a staff, and, as is proper, measure sixteen finger-breadths in length.

स्वस्तिकेनात्र कुर्वीत प्रणामं प्रथमं द्विज । कार्मुकं गृह्य वामेन वामणं दक्षिणकेन तु ।। २४९.

Here, one should first offer salutation in the svastika posture, O twice-born; holding the bow with the left hand, and the arrow with the right.

वैशाखे यदि वा जाते स्थितौ वाप्यथवायतौ । गुणान्तन्तु ततः कृत्वा कार्मके प्रियकार्मुकः ।। २४९.

Whether standing in the Vaiśākha or Jāta posture, or in any extended stance, one should then attach the string to the beloved bow.

अधः कटिन्तु धनुषः फलदेशन्तु पत्रिणः । धरण्यां स्थापयित्वा त तोलयित्वा तथैव च ।। २४९.

Placing the lower part of the bow at the hip, and the arrowhead at the tip, one should set them on the ground and then lift them accordingly.

भुजाब्यामत्र कुब्जाभ्यां प्रकोष्ठाभ्यां शुभव्रत । यस्य वाणं धनुः श्रेष्ठं पुङ्खदेशे च पत्रिणः ।। २४९.

With the arms bent, and the forearms curved, O virtuous one, the best bow is that whose arrow and feathered end fit well in the hand.

विन्यासो धनुषश्चैव द्वादशङ्गुलमन्तरं । ज्यया विशिष्टः कर्त्तव्यो नातिहीनो न चाधिकः ।। २४९.

The spacing of the bow should be twelve finger-breadths apart; the string must be neither too loose nor too tight, but properly fitted.

निवेश्य कार्मुकं नाभ्यां नितम्बे शरसङ्करं । उत्क्षिपेदुत्थितं हस्तमन्त्रेणाक्षिकर्णयोः ।। २४९.

Placing the bow at the navel and the arrow at the hip, one should raise the hand, reciting the mantra at the finger and ear.

पूर्वेण मुष्टिना ग्राह्यस्तनाग्रे दक्षिणे शरः । हरणन्तु ततः कृत्वा शीघ्रं पूर्वं प्रसारयेत् ।। २४९.

The arrow should be grasped at its tip with the right fist; after taking aim, one should quickly extend the arm forward.

नाभ्यन्तरा नैव वाह्या नोद्‌र्ध्वका नाधरा तथा । न च कुब्जा न चोत्ताना न चला नातिवेष्टिता ।। २४९.

The arrow should be neither too close nor too far, neither too high nor too low; it should not be bent, upturned, moving, or excessively twisted.

समा स्थैर्य्यगुणोपेता पूर्वदण्डमिव स्थिता । छादयित्वा ततो लक्ष्यं पूर्व्वेणानेन मुष्टिना ।। २४९.

It should be straight, endowed with the quality of steadiness, and held like a staff; then, with this same fist, one should cover the target.

उरसा तूत्थितो यन्ता त्रिकोणविनतस्थितः । स्रस्तांशे निश्चलग्रीवो मयूराञ्चितमस्तकः ।। २४९.

The archer stands upright with the chest, forming a triangle, with the neck steady and the head bent like a peacock.

ललाटनासावक्त्रांसाः कुर्य्युरश्वसमम्भवेत् । अन्तरं त्र्यङ्गुलं ज्ञेयं चिवुकस्यांसकस्य च ।। २४९.

The forehead, nose, mouth, and shoulders should be aligned like those of a horse; the distance between the string and the shoulder should be known as three finger-breadths.