Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 1
Chapter 243 — Strī-lakṣaṇa
Characteristics of a Woman
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे पुरुषलक्षणं नाम द्विचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ त्रिचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः स्त्रीलक्षणं समुद्र उवाच शस्ता स्त्री चारुसर्वाङ्गी मत्तमातङ्गगामिनी गुरूरुजघना या च मत्तपारावतेक्षणा
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe puruṣalakṣaṇaṃ nāma dvicatvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha tricatvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ strīlakṣaṇaṃ samudra uvāca śastā strī cārusarvāṅgī mattamātaṅgagāminī gurūrujaghanā yā ca mattapārāvatekṣaṇā
Así, en el Agni Mahāpurāṇa, concluye el capítulo ducentésimo cuadragésimo segundo, titulado “Características de un hombre (Puruṣa-lakṣaṇa)”. Ahora comienza el capítulo ducentésimo cuadragésimo tercero, “Características de una mujer (Strī-lakṣaṇa)”. Dijo Samudra: «Es digna de elogio la mujer cuyos miembros son graciosos en todas sus partes, cuya marcha es como la de una elefanta embriagada, cuyos muslos y caderas son plenos y pesados, y cuyos ojos son como los de una paloma embriagada».
Samudra (authority in sāmudrika/physiognomy), within the Agni Purāṇa narration framework
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Cataloging idealized feminine traits for sāmudrika assessment and poetic description; used in marriage selection norms and kāvya-style portrayal.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Strī-lakṣaṇa: cāru-sarvāṅgī, mattamātaṅga-gāminī, guru-ūru-jaghanā, mattapārāvata-īkṣaṇā","lookup_keywords":["strī-lakṣaṇa","mātaṅga-gati","guru-ūru-jaghanā","pārāvata-īkṣaṇa","samudra-uvāca"],"quick_summary":"The chapter transition introduces women’s physiognomic markers. A praised woman is described through graceful limbs, elephant-like gait, full thighs/hips, and dove-like eyes."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā
Concept: Lakṣaṇa as a conventional index of śobha (comeliness) and śubhatva (auspiciousness).
Application: Used as a descriptive template in kāvya and as a social heuristic in matchmaking within the text’s cultural frame.
Khanda Section: Samudra-śāstra / Sāmudrika-śāstra (Physiognomy: Puruṣa- & Strī-lakṣaṇa)
Primary Rasa: Śṛṅgāra
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A graceful woman with symmetrical limbs, heavy thighs and hips, walking with a gentle swaying gait like a female elephant; eyes soft and rounded like an intoxicated dove.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, elegant woman in traditional ornaments, stylized swaying gait, subtle elephant motif to indicate comparison, large expressive dove-like eyes, flat decorative background with floral borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, auspicious woman centered with rich silk, heavy jewelry, gold-leaf highlights, poised stance suggesting elephantine gait, small dove motif near the face to echo the eye-simile.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined facial features and eyes emphasized, gentle posture lines showing gait, instructional aesthetic with minimal background, soft pastel palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace terrace scene, woman walking with attendants, naturalistic rendering of eyes and textiles, discreet elephant and dove motifs in the margins, fine brushwork."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति (यण्-सन्धि/व्यञ्जनसन्धि); ‘तमो ’ध्यायः = तमः अध्यायः (अकार-लोप/अवग्रह). संख्यासमासाः दीर्घ-तत्पुरुषरूपेण।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 243 (Strī-lakṣaṇa chapter opening); Agni Purana 242 (Puruṣa-lakṣaṇa preceding)
FAQs
It imparts sāmudrika-śāstra (physiognomic assessment): identifying ‘commendable’ feminine traits through bodily marks—proportions, gait, and eyes—used for character/auspiciousness evaluation rather than ritual procedure.
By shifting from puruṣa-lakṣaṇa to strī-lakṣaṇa, it shows the Agni Purāṇa compiling diverse applied sciences (lakṣaṇa/physiognomy) alongside theology and ritual—typical of its encyclopedic organization of practical knowledge.
The verse frames bodily ‘marks’ as indicators of auspiciousness (śubha-lakṣaṇa), guiding socially sanctioned choices (e.g., marriage suitability) believed to support harmony and dharmic outcomes, though it does not prescribe a direct ritual merit (puṇya) here.