Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 38
वेश्या क्षुतो नृपः कन्या गौर्दन्ती मुरजध्वजौ क्षीराज्यदधिशङ्खाम्बु छत्रं भेरी फलं सुराः
veśyā kṣuto nṛpaḥ kanyā gaurdantī murajadhvajau kṣīrājyadadhiśaṅkhāmbu chatraṃ bherī phalaṃ surāḥ
বেশ্যা, হাঁচি, রাজা, কন্যা, গাভী, হাতি, মৃদঙ্গ ও ধ্বজা, দুধ-ঘি-দই, শঙ্খ ও জল, ছত্র, ভেরী, ফল এবং সুরা—এগুলি এখানে নিমিত্তচিহ্নরূপে গণ্য।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s nimitta/śakuna material to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the standard frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Cataloging nimitta-dravya/ākāra: recognizing persons, animals, and objects encountered at the outset of an act as prognostic indicators for success, gain, or auspiciousness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Nimitta-saṅgraha: persons, animals, and auspicious objects","lookup_keywords":["nimitta","veśyā","nṛpa","kanyā","śaṅkha","chatra"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates a standard set of omen-items—certain persons (courtesan, king, maiden), animals (cow, elephant), and auspicious objects (drum, banner, dairy, conch, water, umbrella, kettle-drum, fruit, liquor)—to be read contextually as signs."}
Concept: Saṅketa-jñāna: the world is read as a field of indicators; meaning is assigned by tradition and context at the moment of undertaking.
Application: Before starting a task, note first encounters (darśana/śravaṇa) and align timing/intent accordingly—proceed when auspicious clusters appear, postpone when contrary signs dominate.
Khanda Section: Nimitta-śāstra (Śakuna & Svapna-phala) / Omens and prognostics
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sequence of omen-encounters: a courtesan passing, a king in procession, a maiden, a cow and elephant, drums and banners, vessels of milk/ghee/curd and water, a conch, umbrella, kettle-drum, fruit and wine—presented as a didactic array.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, frieze-like procession of nimitta symbols: royal palanquin, maiden with lamp, cow and elephant, drummers with dhvaja, conch and water pot, umbrella bearer, fruit tray and wine vessel; saturated colors, bold contours.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central auspicious assemblage on a pedestal: śaṅkha, kalaśa of water, dairy pots, fruit, chatra and dhvaja behind; gold embossing on vessels and ornaments; side vignettes of king, maiden, cow, elephant.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, chart-like composition with neatly separated panels for each nimitta item (veśyā, kṣut, nṛpa, kanyā, go, dantī, mṛdaṅga, dhvaja, kṣīra/ājya/dadhi, śaṅkha, ambu, chatra, bherī, phala, surā); fine linework and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling street scene at the start of a journey: royal retinue with banner and umbrella, drummers, an elephant, a cow nearby, a maiden at a doorway, a vendor with dairy pots and fruit, a conch by a priest; intricate urban detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gaurdantī → gauḥ + dantī (visarga sandhi/orthographic joining).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 293 (nimitta lists and śakuna-phala)
FAQs
It catalogues specific persons, objects, and sounds treated as nimittas (omen-signs) within Nimitta-śāstra/Śakuna practice—i.e., what encounters or sights are to be noted for prognostication.
By preserving a compact, technical inventory used in applied divination (omens), it shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond theology—into practical arts like prognostics, ritual timing, and decision-making signs.
Observing nimittas is traditionally linked with acting in harmony with dharma and auspicious timing; it is presented as a way to avoid inauspicious action and align one’s choices with ritually and karmically favorable conditions.