Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 9
Chapter 229 — शकुनानि (Śakuna: Omens)
श्वेताः सुमनसः श्रेष्ठाः पूर्णकुम्भो महोत्तमः मांसं मत्स्या दूरशब्दा वृद्ध एकः पशुस्त्वजः
śvetāḥ sumanasaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ pūrṇakumbho mahottamaḥ māṃsaṃ matsyā dūraśabdā vṛddha ekaḥ paśustvajaḥ
White objects, auspicious flowers, excellent persons, and a full water-pot are supremely favorable; likewise meat and fish, sounds heard from a distance, an old man encountered alone, and a beast bearing a banner (or marked as such) are also counted as highly auspicious signs.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Selecting auspicious moments and interpreting favorable encounter-omens (śakuna) for travel, business, and household undertakings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śubha-śakuna: Favorable omens (white objects, flowers, full pot, etc.)","lookup_keywords":["śakuna","śubha-nimitta","śveta","pūrṇa-kumbha","svapna-phala"],"quick_summary":"Auspicious signs include white objects, good flowers, excellent persons, a full water-pot, and also meat/fish, distant sounds, a lone old man, and a banner-marked animal—taken as highly favorable for one’s undertaking."}
Concept: Reading the world as patterned with śubha/āśubha indicators; aligning action with perceived auspiciousness for harmony and success.
Application: At departure or start of work, note these favorable encounters; proceed with steadiness, gratitude, and optional brief thanksgiving worship rather than anxiety.
Khanda Section: Nimitta-śāstra (Śakuna & Svapna-phala) / Omens and prognostics
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler sees auspicious signs: white cloth/objects, fragrant flowers, a dignified person, a full water-pot at the doorway; nearby are fish/meat in a market, a distant auspicious sound, a lone elderly man, and an animal bearing a small banner/mark.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, procession-like sequence of auspicious emblems: white items, flower garlands, pūrṇa-kumbha with mango leaves, elder figure, banner-marked animal, stylized sound waves in the distance, rich flat colors and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central pūrṇa-kumbha with gold work and ornate border, surrounding vignettes of white objects and flowers, dignified person and lone elder, small animal with banner, bright auspicious palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, catalog-style arrangement of auspicious omens in labeled compartments, delicate linework, soft washes, emphasis on recognizability of each sign.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling street scene with subtle auspicious elements: flower seller, water-pot at threshold, white garments, distant musicians/sound, lone old man, animal with small pennant, fine architectural and textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"bright","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पूर्णकुम्भः = पूर्ण + कुम्भः; महोत्तमः = महा + उत्तमः; दूरशब्दाः = दूर + शब्दाः; पशुस्त्वजः = पशुः + तु + अजः (visarga sandhi: पशुः + तु → पशुस् + तु).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 229 (Śakuna lists; śubha/āśubha nimitta)
FAQs
Nimitta-vidyā (omenology): it lists specific encounter-signs—white objects, flowers, a full pot, certain foods/animals, and particular sounds/meetings—classified as highly auspicious for undertaking actions.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical cataloging of applied knowledge—here, śakuna/nimitta rules used for decision-making—alongside its many other domains like ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics.
Acting after observing auspicious nimittas is presented as aligning one’s undertaking with favorable cosmic indications, reducing obstacles and supporting success and purity of intent in one’s actions.