Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 14
Utpāta-śānti
Pacification of Portents
सप्ताहाभ्यनतरे वृष्टावद्भुतं भयकृद्भवेत् शान्तिं विना त्रिभिर्वषैर् अद्भुतं भयकृद्भवेत्
saptāhābhyanatare vṛṣṭāvadbhutaṃ bhayakṛdbhavet śāntiṃ vinā tribhirvaṣair adbhutaṃ bhayakṛdbhavet
Wenn ein außergewöhnlicher Regen (zur Unzeit oder widernatürlich) innerhalb einer Woche eintritt, wird er zu einem furchterregenden Vorzeichen. Ebenso gilt: Wird kein besänftigendes Śānti-Ritual vollzogen, so wird dieses Vorzeichen innerhalb von drei Jahren furchtbar, das heißt, es bringt seine schädliche Wirkung hervor.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Timing rule for omen fruition and the necessity of śānti-prayoga: assess urgency (within a week) and mitigate by performing pacificatory rites to avert harm within the stated period.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Phala-kāla of Vikṛta-vṛṣṭi and the necessity of Śānti","lookup_keywords":["vikṛta-vṛṣṭi","śānti","phala-kāla","saptāha","trivarṣa"],"quick_summary":"Extraordinary rainfall is a fear-producing omen if it occurs within a week; if śānti is neglected, the omen is said to mature into harm within three years—hence prompt pacification is advised."}
Concept: Adharma is not implied, but neglect of prescribed remedial action (śānti) allows feared outcomes to ripen; dhārmic response is time-sensitive.
Application: On witnessing abnormal rainfall as an omen, promptly commission/perform śānti (homa, japa, dāna as prescribed in the surrounding prayoga) rather than waiting for consequences.
Khanda Section: Nimitta-Shastra (Utpata-Adbhuta-Lakshana) / Shanti-Prayoga
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village experiences sudden extraordinary rain; elders consult a sage who urges immediate śānti; a fire-altar is prepared for pacificatory rites to avert fear within the stated time windows.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, torrential out-of-season rain over a temple courtyard, sage indicating urgency (seven days), śānti-homa with lamps and offerings, stylized clouds and rhythmic rain lines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa-kuṇḍa with gold flames, devotees offering ghee, dark rain clouds above with gold-edged halo motifs, ornate temple setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of śānti sequence beside a rain-omen scene; calm priestly figures, clear altar geometry, soft colors and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, monsoon-like scene with unusual rain, community gathering around a ritual fire, scholar-priest reading from a manuscript, architectural and landscape finesse"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सप्ताहाभ्यनतरे → सप्ताह-अभ्यन्तरे; वृष्टावद्भुतं → वृष्टौ + अद्भुतम्; भयकृद्भवेत् → भयकृत् + भवेत्; त्रिभिर्वषैर् → त्रिभिः + वर्षैः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 262 (Śānti-prayoga context for utpāta)
FAQs
It gives a nimitta (omen) rule: extraordinary rainfall within a week is an adbhuta-uptāta, and it prescribes śānti (pacificatory ritual) as the practical countermeasure to prevent harmful fruition.
It exemplifies the Purana’s inclusion of applied predictive sciences—nimitta/utpāta-lakṣaṇa and ritual remediation—alongside theology, making it a compendium that covers social-religious risk management through śānti practices.
The verse frames śānti as a dharmic means to neutralize adverse outcomes indicated by portents, emphasizing timely ritual appeasement to restore harmony and avert fear-producing results.