Agni Purana

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.

कर्त्तव्यं शिक्षकैस्तस्य स्थानं कक्षासु वै तदा । वामहस्तेन सङ्गृह्य दक्षिणेनोद्धरेत्ततः ।। २५१.

The teacher should prepare its place in the arena; grasping it with the left hand, he should then lift it with the right.

कुण्डलस्याकृतिं कृत्वा भ्राम्यैकं मस्तकोपरि । क्षिपेत् तूणमये तूर्णं पुरुषे चर्मवेष्टिते ।। २५१.

Having made it in the form of a coil, spinning it once above the head, he should quickly throw it onto a man clad in leather armor.

वल्गिते च प्लुते चैव तथा प्रव्रजितेषु च । समयोगविधिं कृत्वा प्रयुञ्जीत सुशिक्षितम् ।। २५१.

When leaping, springing, or wandering, having followed the proper method, he should apply it with skillful training.

विजित्वा तु यथान्यायं ततो बन्धं समाचरेत् । कट्याम्बद्‌ध्वा ततः खड्गं वामपार्श्वावलम्बितम् ।। २५१.

Having conquered according to the rule, he should then perform the binding; tying it at the waist, then the sword is suspended at the left side.

दृढं विगृह्य वामेन निष्कर्षेद्दक्षिणेन तु । षडङ्गुलपरीणाहं सप्तहस्तसमुच्छितं ।। २५१.

Grasping firmly with the left, he should draw out with the right; it should be six fingers in circumference and raised seven hands high.

अयोमय्यः शलाकाश्च वर्माणि विविधानि च । अर्द्धहस्ते समे चैव तिर्य्यगूद्‌र्ध्वगतं तथा ।। २५१.

Iron rods and various armors, at half a hand's distance, and likewise at equal, transverse, and elevated positions.

योजयेद्विधिना येन तथात्वङ्गदतः श्रृणु । तूणचर्मावनद्‌धाङ्गं स्थापयित्वा नवं दृढं ।। २५१.

Listen to how one should properly employ it, as I explain in detail: after placing a new, sturdy shield and bow upon the body,

करेणादाय लगुडं दक्षिणाङ्गुलकं नवं । उद्यम्य घातयेद्यस्य नाशस्तेन शिशोर्दृढं ।। २५१.

Taking a new club in the right hand, and raising it, one should strike firmly; by this, the destruction of the child is assured.

उभाभ्यामथ हस्ताब्यां कुर्य्यात्तस्य निपातनं । अक्लेशेन ततः कुर्वन् बधे सिद्धिः प्रकीर्त्तिता ।। २५१.

Then, using both hands, one should bring it down upon him; doing this without difficulty, success in the killing is declared.

अग्निरुवाच भ्रान्तमुद् भ्रान्तमाविद्धमाप्लुतं विप्लुतं सृतं । सम्पातं समुदीशञ्च श्येनपातमथाकुलं ।। २५२.

Agni said: The circling, the striking, the leaping, the plunging, the running, the swooping, the attacking from above, the descent like a hawk, and the confusion—