Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 6
Chapter 229 — शकुनानि (Śakuna: Omens)
क्व यासि तिष्ठ मा गच्छ किन्ते तत्र गतस्य च अनिष्टशब्दा मृत्यर्थं क्रव्यादश् च ध्वजादिगः
kva yāsi tiṣṭha mā gaccha kinte tatra gatasya ca aniṣṭaśabdā mṛtyarthaṃ kravyādaś ca dhvajādigaḥ
‘কোথায় যাচ্ছ? থামো—যেও না।’ যে সেখানে গিয়েছে, তার জন্য অশুভ ধ্বনি মৃত্যুর লক্ষণ হয়; তদ্রূপ ক্রব্যাদ (মাংসভোজী) প্রাণী এবং ধ্বজাদি-সম্পর্কিত অমঙ্গল-চিহ্নও মৃত্যুসূচক।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s nimitta/śakuna material to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Interpreting inauspicious utterances and sightings as travel-omens; deciding to halt, return, or perform pacificatory measures when death-portents arise.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Mṛtyu-nimitta: Inauspicious cries and carrion-eaters as death-portents","lookup_keywords":["nimitta","śakuna","aniṣṭa-śabda","kravyāda","mṛtyu-lakṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Hearing discouraging/inauspicious words and encountering carrion-eaters or banner-related ill-omens are treated as death-portents for one proceeding on a journey."}
Concept: Heeding nimitta (omens) as a dhārmic prudence—avoiding rash action when signs indicate danger.
Application: If such portents occur at departure or en route, postpone travel/undertaking, seek protective rites, and proceed only after favorable counter-signs.
Khanda Section: Nimitta-Śāstra (Śakuna & Utpāta Lakṣaṇa) / Omens and Portents
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler is stopped by bystanders calling ‘Where are you going? Stop!’ while ominous cries echo; carrion birds circle near a banner/flag, signaling danger.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, roadside scene with traveler and companions, stylized vultures/crows (kravyāda) near a fluttering dhvaja, sound depicted as wave motifs, dramatic but flat mural composition, deep ochres and greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central traveler figure with ornate border, gold-highlighted banner, dark birds in the sky, attendants gesturing ‘stop’, auspicious/inauspicious contrast via bright vs dark tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, narrative clarity: traveler at threshold, warning speakers, labeled elements ‘अनिṣṭ-शब्द’ and ‘क्रव्याद’, soft palette, instructional emphasis on the omen objects.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed landscape road, figures in profile, banner standard-bearer, carrion birds rendered finely, calligraphic caption of the warning phrase, tense atmosphere."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ominous","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: किन्ते = किम् + ते; अनिष्टशब्दाः = अनिष्ट + शब्दाः (समास); मृत्यर्थम् = मृत्यु + अर्थम् (अव्ययीभाव); ध्वजादिगः = ध्वज + आदि + गः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 229 (Nimitta-śāstra: śakuna/utpāta)
FAQs
It conveys nimitta-vidyā (śakuna/omen-reading): certain cries and sightings—especially carrion-eaters and ominous banner-related signs—are treated as mṛtyu-nimittas (death-portents), advising one to halt or avoid the journey.
By preserving practical divinatory diagnostics (aniṣṭa-śabda, kravyāda-darśana, dhvaja-nimitta), it shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond theology—into applied omen-science used for travel, decision-making, and risk avoidance.
Heeding inauspicious omens is framed as prudent dhārmic conduct: avoiding a death-marked course reduces harm and aligns one’s actions with cosmic indicators (nimittas) that warn against impending misfortune.