245 - The characteristics of the royal fan, bow and sword

Agni said:

1-6. The handle of (the royal) fan (should be of) gold. The royal umbrella made of the feathers of hamsa, peacock, parrot or the feathers of crane is praised. Itshould not be made with mixed feathers. (An umbrella) of a brahmin (should be) of squareshape and that of a king (should be) circular and white. (Thereshould be) three, four, five, six, seven or eight joints on the handle (of umbrella). The auspicious seat of the king (should be made) with (the wood of) the ksira trees of fifty inches long. Its breadthshould be three cubits and decorated with gold and other things. O Excellent brahmin! The bow (is made of thrce materials) iron, horn or wood. The three materials for the bow-string are the bamboo fibre, hide and wood. Four cubits would be the excellent measure of a bow. It is said to be mediocre if equal and inferior if less than that. Materialsshould be added at the middle part for the sake of the grip of the fist. 

7-13. O Brahmin! the tip of the bow made of horns or iron (should be having) minute edge (covered) by hides. The edge (should be) like the creeper, (like) the eye-brow of a beautiful damsel andshould be fastened well. O Brahmin! Oneshould make the bow separately made of the horn or iron or (the two) mixed. A good bowshould suitably be decorated with particles of gold. A bow that is crooked, broken and with incisions is not commended. Gold, silver, copper and black iron are remembered (to be the materials) in (making) a bow. A bow (made of) horns of a buffalo, a Sarabha (a fabulous animal) or rohisa (a kind of deer) are auspicious. A bow (made of) sandal, cane, sala, dhavala and kakubha (trees) (are good). The most excellent bow is that made of bamboos cut and collected in the autumn. The bowshould be worshipped with the sacred syllables called trailokyamohana (captivating the three worlds) (used) for the swords. The arrows (may be made) of iron, bamboo or reeds. (Theyshould be) straight and gold-coloured and bound by sinews. (Theyshould have) good feathers. (Theyshould have) gold feathers that are good. (Theyshould) be cleaned with oil and be of good colour. Oneshould worship weapons, bows and other things before starting an expedition or the royal consecration. 

14-27. The king (should also worship) those carrying banners and weapons and the astrologers. Lord Brahma performed a sacrifice on the banks of celestial Ganges on the peaks of the Meru (mountain). When he was contemplating at the sacrifice he saw the demon Loha (that causes) obstruction. As he was thinking about that, a great mighty form appeared from the fire in front of him. He bowed down to the lord (Brahma) and the celestials greeted him with joy. Lord Hari took the sword (called) Nandaka from the demon as requested by the celestials. The lord seized it slowly and it became unsheathed. The sword was blue (in colour) with gem (studded) handle. Then the demon became (endowed with) hundred hands. That demon made the celestials run away in the battlefield by means of the mace: The body of the demon was cut by lord Hari with the sword and (the parts of) the body fell on the earth and all of them became pieces of iron on account of their contact with the (sword) Nandaka. After having killed him lord Hari gave him a boon (saying) "Your holy body would become (the material) for weapons on the earth". On account of the grace of lord Hari, Brahmā also worshipped lord Hari with the sacrifice without obstruction. Then Ishall describe the characteristics of a sword. Swords that are pro duced at (the places) Khați and Khațțara are known to be worthy of being seen. Those belonging to (the region called) *Rshi' (would be capable of) cutting the body. Those produced from Sūrparaka would be strong. Those got from Vanga aresharp and capable of cutting. Those produced from the country Anga aresharp. Sword (of the length) of fifty inches is said to be excellent. Half of that measure is known to be medium. Oneshould not bear a swordshorter than that length. O Noblest one! It is said to be extremely worthy to wear a sword that is long and that which makes a sweet sound like that of a bell. A sword having the tip resembling the lotus flower or round is commended. Swords having the colour of the tip of a karavira leaf, the smell of ghee and the lustre of the sky (are also good). Spots at equal intervals of an inch on the swords are commendable as on the linga. Those resembling the colour of a crow or owl and of an unevenshape are not auspicious. Oneshould not see his face reflected in the sword. Oneshould not touch the sword after eating (without washing the mouth). Oneshould not disclose the value and quality of a sword. Oneshould not place the sword under the head in the night.