Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 7
Chapter 229 — शकुनानि (Śakuna: Omens)
स्खलनं वाहनानाञ्च शस्त्रभङ्गस्तथैव च शिरोघातश् च द्वाराद्यैश्च्छत्रवासादिपातनं
skhalanaṃ vāhanānāñca śastrabhaṅgastathaiva ca śiroghātaś ca dvārādyaiścchatravāsādipātanaṃ
عثرةُ الدوابّ أو المركبات وانزلاقُها، وانكسارُ السلاح، وضربةٌ على الرأس، وسقوطُ أطر الأبواب وما شابهها، وكذلك انهيارُ المظلات والقباب واللواحق المماثلة—كلُّ ذلك يُعَدُّ من الحوادث المشؤومة.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Battlefield risk assessment through mishap-omens—interpreting equipment failures and structural collapses as signals to pause, regroup, or perform śānti before engagement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Yuddha-utpāta: Mishaps indicating inauspiciousness in war","lookup_keywords":["dhanurveda","utpāta","śastra-bhaṅga","vāhana-skhalana","chatra-pātana"],"quick_summary":"Slipping of mounts/vehicles, weapon breakage, head injury, and collapse of doors/parasols/canopies are counted as inauspicious mishaps, especially relevant to martial undertakings."}
Weapon Type: General (śastra: weapons broadly)
Concept: Prudence (apramāda) in action—reading signs and preventing avoidable harm in high-stakes contexts.
Application: Commanders should interpret repeated mishaps as a cue for śānti, reorganization, or postponement rather than pressing forward blindly.
Khanda Section: Dhanurveda (Military Science & Battlefield Omens/Portents)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A military camp scene: a horse stumbles, a sword/bow breaks, a soldier clutches his head from a blow, and a gate-frame and parasol canopy collapse—commanders look alarmed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, war-camp tableau with stylized horses and chariots, broken weapon depicted clearly, falling chatra and canopy, strong outlines and flat color blocks, tense gestures of commanders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, heroic figures with gold accents on armor and parasol, dramatic depiction of a collapsing canopy and broken weapon, ornate border, emphasis on royal insignia.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, semi-diagrammatic battlefield mishaps in panels (stumble, breakage, head blow, collapse), clean composition for instructional reading, soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed camp architecture with a falling door-frame, parasol attendants, horses mid-stumble, fine rendering of weapons, expressive faces, dynamic diagonals."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"grave","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाहनानाञ्च = वाहनानाम् + च; शस्त्रभङ्गः = शस्त्र + भङ्गः; शिरोघातः = शिरः + घातः; द्वाराद्यैः = द्वार + आद्यैः; द्वाराद्यैश्छत्र... = द्वाराद्यैः + छत्र... (ः + छ → श्छ); छत्रवासादिपातनम् = छत्र + वास + आदि + पातनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 229 (Dhanurveda: yuddha-nimitta/utpāta)
FAQs
It lists practical arishta (inauspicious indicators) relevant to Dhanurveda—battlefield/expedition mishaps such as mounts slipping, weapons breaking, head injuries, and collapse of structural fittings (doors, parasols, canopies), used to judge risk and timing.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied knowledge from martial and royal practice—reading omens and operational hazards—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of governance and warfare alongside ritual and doctrine.
Recognizing arishta is treated as a dharmic safeguard: heeding such signs helps avoid adharmic violence, prevent needless harm, and choose actions aligned with prudent, merit-preserving conduct.