Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 31
Mantra-paribhāṣā (मन्त्रपरिभाषा) — Colophon/Closure
जीवपार्श्वे शुभो दूतो दुष्टो ऽन्यत्र सम्मागतः जीवो गतागतैर् दुष्टः शुभो दूतनिवेदने
jīvapārśve śubho dūto duṣṭo 'nyatra sammāgataḥ jīvo gatāgatair duṣṭaḥ śubho dūtanivedane
Cuando un mensajero auspicioso aparece al lado de la persona viva, mientras que uno infausto se encuentra en otro lugar, la persona queda afectada por esa infaustidad a través de idas y venidas; pero si el informe o mensaje del mensajero es auspicioso, se toma como auspicioso.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Death-omen and messenger-interpretation in preta/antyeṣṭi context: where and how the messenger appears and what is reported affects auspicious/inauspicious inference for the living person.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Yama-dūta/śubha-dūta nimitta in proximity and report","lookup_keywords":["preta-karma","yama-dūta","śubha-dūta","nimitta","dūta-nivedana"],"quick_summary":"Auspiciousness depends on the messenger’s proximity to the living person and the content of the message; movement/encounter patterns can indicate affliction, while an auspicious report is taken as favorable."}
Concept: Nimitta is interpreted with context (deśa-kāla-sannidhi) and with the ‘report’ (nivedana); meaning is not fixed by a single sign alone.
Application: When assessing death-omens, weigh proximity/encounter and the message content; respond with dhārmic precautions (prāyaścitta, dāna, protective rites) rather than panic.
Khanda Section: Preta-karma & Antyeshti (Death-omens, messengers of Yama, karmic portents)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A living person seated while an auspicious messenger appears close by; elsewhere an inauspicious messenger is encountered in the background; the scene emphasizes comings-and-goings and then a final panel where the messenger delivers an auspicious report that calms the household.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, narrative sequence with two messengers: one near the seated person (śubha), one distant shadowed figure (aśubha); flowing lines showing ‘gatāgata’; concluding calm scene with auspicious report.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, household scene with gold accents; śubha messenger near the protagonist with bright aura, distant aśubha messenger in darker tones; final vignette of nivedana with reassuring gesture.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear storyboard layout: proximity rule illustrated, arrows for encounter paths, final ‘dūta-nivedana’ panel marked śubha; restrained palette for instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, domestic courtyard with multiple figures; one messenger close to the seated man, another encountered at a gate; attendants moving to and fro; final delivery of message with subtle emotional shift from anxiety to relief."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: duṣṭo 'nyatra = duṣṭaḥ anyatra; gatāgatair = gata-āgataiḥ (dvandva, instr. pl.); dūtanivedane = dūta-nivedane.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 293 (preta/antyeṣṭi-related omens and dūta-śakuna continuation)
FAQs
It teaches dūta-nimitta: how meeting an auspicious or inauspicious “messenger” (omen-bearer) near the person vs. elsewhere, and the nature of the messenger’s report, is read as a prognostic sign in preta-karma/antyeṣṭi contexts.
Alongside rituals and theology, it preserves applied nimitta-śāstra (omenology)—a practical diagnostic layer used in household and ritual decision-making around illness, travel, and impending death.
It frames external encounters and communications as karmically meaningful indicators, guiding timely ritual responses (prāyaścitta, dāna, japa, or antyeṣṭi preparations) to mitigate inauspicious outcomes and strengthen auspicious resolve.