Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
गोश्वोष्ट्रगर्दभश्वानः सारिका गृहगोधिका चटका भासकूर्माद्याः कथिता ग्रामवासिनः
gośvoṣṭragardabhaśvānaḥ sārikā gṛhagodhikā caṭakā bhāsakūrmādyāḥ kathitā grāmavāsinaḥ
Vacas, caballos, camellos, asnos y perros; el miná; la lagartija de casa; el gorrión; el cuervo; y la tortuga y otros—éstos se mencionan como seres que habitan en las aldeas (criaturas domésticas o de vida aldeana).
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) addressing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Creating a quick-reference list of village-dwelling/domestic creatures for use in lexicography, omen-reading contexts, and practical classification of fauna by habitat.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Grāmavāsin (village-dwelling) creatures: domestic animals and common cohabitants","lookup_keywords":["grāmavāsin","go-aśva-uṣṭra","gṛha-godhikā","sārikā","cāṭaka-bhāsa-kūrma"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates common village-associated beings—domestic animals and familiar cohabitants like myna, house-lizard, sparrow, crow, tortoise—serving as a habitat-based classification list."}
Khanda Section: Nighaṇṭu / Nāma-mālā (Lexicography: lists of names and classifications)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Settlement
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lively village scene showing the listed animals and birds: cows, horses, camels, donkeys, dogs; myna on a branch; house-lizard on a wall; sparrow and crow near grain; a tortoise near a water pot.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, panoramic grāma tableau with stylized animals in clear groups, myna and sparrow perched, crow near threshing floor, house-lizard on a house wall, tortoise by a small pond, warm earthy palette and decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central village courtyard with domestic animals, gold accents on ornaments and harnesses, birds rendered decoratively, house-lizard and tortoise as charming details, rich architectural framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean illustrative plate: each grāmavāsin creature arranged in a balanced composition like a field guide, fine outlines and gentle shading, minimal background for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed rural vignette: herdsman with cows and horses, a camel tethered, donkey and dog nearby, birds around grain baskets, lizard on plaster wall, tortoise near water, intricate naturalistic detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भासकूर्माद्याः = भास + कूर्म + आद्याः (आदि-शब्देन सह); gośvoṣṭragardabhaśvānaḥ treated as a dvandva list-compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana nāma-mālā/nighaṇṭu style lists (general); Agni Purana 230 (classification lists)
FAQs
It imparts nighaṇṭu/lexicographic knowledge: a technical classification and standardized Sanskrit naming of grāmya (village/domiciled) animals and birds.
By cataloging practical terminology (animal and bird names) and grouping them by habitat (village-dwelling), the text functions as a reference manual—one of the Agni Purana’s hallmark encyclopedic features beyond purely mythic narration.
Its primary intent is descriptive rather than prescriptive; the indirect significance is that correct naming and classification support accurate recitation, teaching, and application of dharma/ritual and traditional sciences that rely on precise Sanskrit terminology.