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
“Where are you going? Stop—do not go.” For one who has gone there, inauspicious cries become a sign of death; likewise, carrion-eaters and ill-omened indications connected with a banner and the like are death-portents.
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.