Agni Purana

गृहीत्वा सायकं पुङ्खात्तर्ज्जन्याङ्गुष्ठकेन तु । अनामया पुनर्गृह्य तथा मध्यमयापि च ।। २४९.

Having taken the arrow by its feather with the thumb and forefinger, one should then grasp it again with the ring finger, and likewise with the middle finger.

तावदाकर्षयेद्वेगाद्यावद्वाणः सुपूरितः । एवं विधमुपक्रम्य मोक्तव्यं विधिवत् खगं ।। २४९.

One should draw the bow with force until the arrow is fully drawn; having begun in this manner, the arrow is to be released according to the proper method.

दृष्टिमुष्टिहतं लक्ष्यं भिन्द्याद्वाणेन सुव्रत । मुक्वा तु पश्चिमं हस्तं क्षिपेद्वेगेन पृष्ठतः ।। २४९.

O virtuous one, with sight and fist aligned, one should pierce the target with the arrow; after releasing, the rear hand should be swiftly thrown backward.

एतदुच्छेदमिच्छन्ति ज्ञातव्यं हि त्वया द्विज । कर्पूरन्तदधः कार्य्यमाकृष्य तु धनुष्मता ।। २४९.

This is called the 'cutting off' technique, which you should know, O twice-born; the lower part of the wrist should be drawn down by the archer.

ऊद्‌र्ध्वं विमुक्तके कार्ये लक्षश्लिष्टन्तु मध्यमं । श्रेष्ठं प्रकृष्टं विज्ञेयं धनःशास्त्रविशारदैः ।। २४९.

When releasing upward, the middle is to be aimed at the target; the best and most excellent is to be known by those skilled in the science of archery.

ज्येष्ठस्तु सायको ज्ञेयो भवेद्‌द्वादशमुष्टयः । एकादश तथा मध्यः कनीयान्दशमुष्टयः ।। २४९.

The longest arrow is to be known as twelve fists in length; the middle one is eleven, and the shortest is ten fists.

चतुर्हस्तं धनुः श्रेष्ठं त्रयः साद्‌र्धन्तु मध्यमं । कनीयस्तु त्रयः प्रोक्तं नित्यमेव पदातिनः ।। २४९.

A bow of four cubits is considered excellent; three and a half is the middle length; the shortest, always for foot soldiers, is said to be three cubits.

अग्निरुवाच पूर्णायतं द्विजः कृत्वा ततो मांसैर्गदायूधान् । सुनिर्धौतं धनुः कृत्वा यज्ञभूमौ विधापयेत् ।। २५०.

Agni said: Having drawn the bow to its full extent, O twice-born, then, with flesh and mace weapons, having made the bow thoroughly clean, one should set it up in the sacrificial ground.

ततो वाणं समागृह्य दंशितः सुसमाहितः । बध्नीयाद्‌दृढां कक्षाञ्च दक्षिणाम् ।। २५०.

Then, having taken up the arrow, attentive and well-concentrated, one should firmly tie the right arm-guard.

विलक्षअयमपि तद्वाणं तत्र चैव सुसंस्थितं । ततः समुद्धरेद्वाणं तूणाद्दक्षिणपाणिना ।। २५०.

Even if distracted, that arrow should be well-placed there; then, one should draw the arrow from the quiver with the right hand.

तेनैव सहितं मध्ये शरं सङ्‌गृह्य धारयेत् । वामहस्तेन वै कक्षां धनुस्तस्मात्समुद्धरेत् ।। २५०.

Holding the arrow together in the middle, one should support it; with the left hand, the arm-guard, and from there, draw out the bow.

अविषण्णमतिर्भूत्वा गुणे पुङ्खं निवेशयेत् । सम्पीड्य सिंहकर्णेन पुङ्खेनापि समे दृढं ।। २५०.

With unwavering mind, one should place the feather on the string, pressing it firmly with the lion's ear grip and also with the feather, equally and tightly.

वामकर्णोपविष्टञ्च फलं वामस्य धारयेत् । वर्णान् मध्यमया तत्र वामाङ्गुल्या च धारयेत् ।। २५०.

One should rest the tip of the arrow near the left ear, and hold the colors there with the middle and left fingers.

मनो लक्ष्यगतं कृत्वा मुष्टिना च विधानवित् । दक्षिणे गात्रभागो तु कृत्वा वर्णं विमोक्षयेत् ।। २५०.

Focusing the mind on the target, and with the proper grip, one should, with the right side of the body, release the arrow.

ललाटपुटसंस्थानं दण्डं लक्ष्ये निवेशयेत् । आकृष्य ताड़येत्तत्र चन्द्रकं षोड़शङ्गुलम् ।। २५०.

Placing the shaft at the center of the forehead, one should draw and then release the arrow so that the crescent mark is sixteen fingers away.

मुक्त्वा वाणं ततः पश्चादुल्काशिक्षस्तदा तया । निगृह्णीयानुमध्यमया ततोऽङ्गुल्या पुनः पुनः ।। २५०.

After releasing the arrow, then, with the torch technique, one should restrain it again and again with the middle finger.

अक्षिलक्ष्यं क्षिपेत्तूणाच्चतुरस्रञ्च दक्षिणम् । चतुरस्रगतं वेध्यमभ्यसेच्चादितः स्थितः ।। २५०.

One should shoot at the eye-level target from the quiver, and also at the square target on the right; one should practice piercing the square target while standing at the starting point.

तस्मादनन्तरं तीक्ष्णं परवृत्तं गतञ्च यत् । निम्नमुन्नतवेधञ्च अभ्यसेत् क्षिप्रकन्ततः ।। २५०.

Therefore, after that, one should practice swiftly those targets which are sharp, turned away, departed, as well as those that are low, high, and moving.

वेध्यस्थानेष्वथैतेषु सत्त्वस्य पुटकाद्धनुः । हस्तावापशतैश्चित्रैस्तर्ज्जयेद्‌दुस्तरैरपि ।। २५०.

At the places to be pierced, among these, the bow is drawn from the quiver by the strength of the hand, and one should threaten even difficult targets with various displays.

तस्मिन् वेध्यगते विप्र द्वे वेध्ये दृढसंज्ञके । द्वे वेध्ये दुष्करे वेध्ये द्वे तथा चित्रदुष्करे ।। २५०.

On the target that has been struck, O Brahmin, there are two targets called 'firm', two targets that are difficult, and likewise two targets that are both varied and difficult.

न तु निम्नञ्च तीक्ष्णञ्च दृढवेध्ये प्रकीर्त्तिते । निम्नं दुष्करमुद्दिष्टं वेध्यमूद्‌र्ध्वगतञ्च यत् ।। २५०.

But neither the low nor the sharp target is mentioned among the firm targets; the low is designated as difficult, and the target that is elevated.

मस्तकायनमध्ये तु चित्रदुष्करसञ्‌ज्ञके । एवं वेध्यगणङ्‌कृत्वा दक्षिणेनेतरेण च ।। २५०.

In the middle of the head and body, the target is called 'varied and difficult'; thus, having made a group of targets, with the right and the other hand.

आरोहेत् प्रथमं वीरो जितलक्षस्ततो नरः । एष एव विधिः प्रोक्तस्तत्र दृष्टः प्रयोक्तृभिः ।। २५०.

The hero who first achieves the mark should ascend, then the man; this is the prescribed rule, as seen by those who practice it.

अधिकं भ्रमणं तस्य तस्माद् वेध्यात् प्रकीर्त्तितम् । लक्ष्यं स योजयेत्तत्र पत्रिपत्रगतं दृढम् ।। २५०.

Greater rotation is declared for that target; he should attach the mark there, firmly with the feathered arrow.

भ्रान्तं प्रचलिचञ्चैव स्थिरं यच्च भवेदति । समन्तात्ताडयेद् भिन्द्याच्छेदयेद्व्यथयेदपि ।। २५०.

Whatever is spinning, moving, or very steady, he should strike, break, cut, or even afflict it from all sides.

कर्म्मयोगविधानज्ञो ज्ञात्वैवं विधिमाचरेत् । मनसा चक्षुषा दृष्ट्या योगरिक्षुर्यमं जयेत् ।। २५०.

One who knows the method of action and practice should act thus, having understood the rule; with mind, sight, and vision, the yogic archer should conquer restraint.

अग्निरुवाच जितहस्तो जितमतिर्ज्जितदृग्‌लक्ष्यसाधकः । नियतां सिद्धिमासाद्य ततो वाहनमारुहेत् ।। २५१.

Agni said: One who has mastered the hand, mind, and sight, and who achieves the mark, having attained assured success, should then mount the vehicle.

दशहस्तो भवेत् पाशो वृत्तः करमुखस्तथा । गुणकार्पासमुञ्जानां भङ्गस्नाय्वर्क्कवर्म्मिणाम् ।। २५१.

The noose should be ten hands in length, round, and at the end of the hand, made from cords of cotton, munja grass, hemp, and strong threads of gold or armor.

अन्येषां सुदृढानाञ्च सुकृतं परिवेष्टितम् । तया त्रिंशत्‌समं पाशं बुधः कुर्य्यात् सुवर्त्तिंतम् ।। २५१.

For others, who are very strong, it should be well wrapped; with that, the wise should make the noose thirty times as long, well twisted.