Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 24
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
भूमिं पादैर् विनिघ्नन्त्यो दीना भीता भयावहाः आर्द्राङ्ग्यो हृष्टरोमाश् च शृगलग्नमृदः शुभाः
bhūmiṃ pādair vinighnantyo dīnā bhītā bhayāvahāḥ ārdrāṅgyo hṛṣṭaromāś ca śṛgalagnamṛdaḥ śubhāḥ
Striking the ground with their feet—wretched, frightened, and terrifying—(women) with damp limbs and bristling hair, and (those) whose bodies are smeared with jackal-clinging mud: these are auspicious omens.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa frame narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Reading human behavioral/physiological signs (fear, bristling hair, dampness, mud-smearing) as immediate auspicious omens in prognostics—useful for decision-making before travel, audience, or enterprise.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Strī-ceṣṭā-nimitta (Omens from women’s movements/appearance)","lookup_keywords":["pāda-vinighna","dīnā-bhītā","ārdrāṅgī","hṛṣṭa-roma","śṛgala-lagna-mṛd"],"quick_summary":"Certain startling behaviors/appearances—women striking the ground with their feet, damp-limbed with horripilation, or smeared with mud associated with jackals—are classified here as auspicious signs, despite their fearful look."}
Concept: Nimitta-śāstra often inverts surface emotion: fearful appearances can function as śubha-lakṣaṇa within a codified omen-system.
Application: Do not abort an undertaking solely due to frightening appearances; consult the omen-code and proceed when classified as śubha.
Khanda Section: Nimitta-Śāstra (Omens and Prognostics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A roadside/threshold scene: a frightened woman stamps the earth; her limbs appear damp, hair standing on end; another figure has mud clinging as if from a jackal’s haunt; observers interpret it as auspicious before a journey.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic stamping pose, stylized horripilation, damp sheen indicated by color gradients, earthy mud textures, onlookers in traditional dress gesturing ‘śubha’, strong outlines and narrative clarity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold accents on jewelry and borders, central stamping figure, attendants/soothsayer indicating auspiciousness, decorative flora, dramatic yet formal composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene with clear gestures: omen-interpreter explaining signs to travelers, soft palette, fine lines emphasizing hair-bristle and damp limbs","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed street/roadside architecture, expressive faces, stamping motion captured, mud textures finely rendered, a learned interpreter pointing to classify the omen as auspicious"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पादैः + विनिघ्नन्त्यः → पादैर् विनिघ्नन्त्यः (विसर्ग/रेफ-सन्धि); भय + आवहाः → भयावहाः; आर्द्र + अङ्ग्यः → आर्द्राङ्ग्यः; हृष्ट + रोमाः + च → हृष्टरोमाश्च; शृगल-अग्न-मृदः: पाठ/विग्रह अनिश्चित (संभवतः शृगालग्निमृदः इत्यादि).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (nimitta lists)
FAQs
It conveys nimitta-vidyā (prognostic knowledge): specific bodily and behavioral signs—trampling the earth, fearfulness, damp limbs, horripilation, and mud adhering like jackal-mud—are classified here as auspicious indicators.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs applied disciplines such as omen-reading (nimitta/śakuna) used for practical decisions; this verse is one data-point in that systematic classification of signs and outcomes.
By treating omens as meaningful indicators, it supports dharmic action-timing—choosing moments deemed favorable—thereby aiming to align human undertakings with an auspicious order and reduce adverse results.