Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 37
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
हृष्टा नराश्चानुलोमा ग्रहा वै जयलक्षणं काकैर् योधाभिभवनं क्रव्याद्भिर्मण्डलक्षयः
hṛṣṭā narāścānulomā grahā vai jayalakṣaṇaṃ kākair yodhābhibhavanaṃ kravyādbhirmaṇḍalakṣayaḥ
فرحُ الرجال، وسيرُ الكواكب في مسارٍ مُواتٍ (أنولُوما)؛ تلك حقًّا علاماتُ الظَّفَر. أمّا إذا غلبت الغربانُ المحاربين، وساد آكلو الجيف، فذلك يدلّ على خراب الماندالا، أي دائرة السلطان والملك.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Using human morale, planetary motion, and battlefield fauna-omens to forecast victory/defeat and to take preventive statecraft measures when ruin-signs appear.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Jaya–Parajaya Lakṣaṇa: Cheerful Men, Anuloma Grahas vs. Crows and Carrion-Eaters","lookup_keywords":["jaya-lakshana","anuloma-graha","hrshta-nara","kaka-shakuna","mandala-kshaya"],"quick_summary":"Victory is indicated by cheerful troops/people and favorable planetary motion; defeat and loss of dominion are indicated when crows and carrion-eaters dominate the battlefield and overwhelm warriors."}
Concept: Rājadharma requires attention to both daiva (cosmic factors) and puruṣakāra (human factors like morale) to protect subjects and realm.
Application: Cultivate troop confidence and public order; if ominous signs of mass death appear, choose diplomacy, delay, or ritual appeasement rather than reckless engagement.
Khanda Section: Jyotiṣa & Śakuna-śāstra (Omens and portents for victory/defeat)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two contrasted scenes: on one side, cheerful soldiers under clear auspicious sky; on the other, a grim battlefield where crows and vultures swarm over fallen or threatened warriors, symbolizing impending ruin of the realm.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural diptych: left—bright-faced warriors and auspicious planetary wheel above; right—dark-toned battlefield with crows and carrion birds circling, stylized expressive eyes, strong ornamental framing","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold accents: victorious side with shining standards and smiling troops; ominous side with black birds in gold-outlined sky, fallen shields, king’s worried face, heavy decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic split composition labeled ‘jaya’ and ‘kṣaya’: planets shown in orderly direct motion above the jaya panel; dense flock of crows/vultures above the kṣaya panel, fine detailing and calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature battlefield: realistic birds (crows, vultures) descending, soldiers reacting, astrologer/soothsayer near the commander, detailed armor and terrain, subtle sky with planetary motifs"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: narāścānulomā = narāḥ + ca + anulomāḥ; jayalakṣaṇaṃ = jaya-lakṣaṇam; kākair = kākaiḥ (visarga-lopa before y-); yodhābhibhavanaṃ = yodha-abhibhavanam; kravyādbhirmaṇḍalakṣayaḥ = kravyādbhiḥ + maṇḍala-kṣayaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (victory/defeat omens); Agni Purana 232 (yātrā rules under rājadharma)
FAQs
It gives śakuna-jñāna (omenology) for campaigns: favorable planetary motion and upbeat troops predict victory, while ominous bird-signs (crows/carrion-eaters dominating) foretell defeat and political collapse.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and military forecasting—integrating jyotiṣa (planetary indications) with battlefield śakunas (animal/bird omens) to guide royal decision-making.
It frames victory and ruin as reflected in cosmic and natural order: when harmony (anuloma grahas, confident people) prevails there is success, while disorder and death-signs (carrion-eaters) signal the waning of dharma and the kingdom’s merit.