Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 35
Mantra-paribhāṣā (मन्त्रपरिभाषा) — Colophon/Closure
दुष्टौ दूतस्य वाक्पादौ वाताग्नी मध्यमो हरिः प्रशस्ता वारुणा वर्णा अतिदुष्टा नपुंसकाः
duṣṭau dūtasya vākpādau vātāgnī madhyamo hariḥ praśastā vāruṇā varṇā atiduṣṭā napuṃsakāḥ
Pour un messager, les présages tirés de la parole et des pieds sont néfastes. Un teint dominé par vāta et agni est moyen ; une teinte hari (jaune verdâtre/brun verdâtre) est favorable ; une teinte vāruṇa (de nature aqueuse) est également favorable ; mais une apparence napuṃsaka (sans différenciation sexuelle/androgyne) est extrêmement néfaste.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing a sage (commonly transmitted as Vasiṣṭha in later summaries)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Assessing messenger-omens (dūta-lakṣaṇa) for diplomatic decisions—whether to proceed, delay, or take precautions based on speech, gait/feet, and complexion signs.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dūta-lakṣaṇa: omens from speech, feet, and complexion","lookup_keywords":["nimitta","duta-lakshana","varna","hari-varna","napumsaka"],"quick_summary":"The verse lists auspicious/inauspicious messenger signs: defects in speech/feet are bad; certain complexions are middling or good; an androgynous/sexless appearance is extremely inauspicious."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Nimitta (signs) guide prudent action; one should not ignore embodied indicators in public affairs.
Application: In royal counsel, weigh messenger-omens as risk signals; corroborate with other intelligence before acting.
Khanda Section: Nimitta-shastra (Omens & Physiognomy) / Dūta-lakṣaṇa (Messenger-omens)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king’s council examines a messenger: his speech, feet, and complexion are scrutinized; advisors classify signs as auspicious or inauspicious.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, royal court with ministers, messenger standing barefoot, one advisor pointing to feet, another observing complexion hues (hari, vāruṇa), stylized color coding, flat iconic figures","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king and ministers with gold embellishments, messenger presented for inspection, symbolic color swatches near the figure indicating vāta-agni/hari/vāruṇa, ornate throne and jewelry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagnostic scene like a manual illustration, clear depiction of feet posture and facial complexion, labels in margins, calm instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate durbar scene, finely rendered skin tones and garments, advisors whispering about omens, detailed floor patterns and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vākpādau → vāk-pādau; vātāgnī → vāta-agni (dual); varṇā → varṇāḥ; atiduṣṭā → ati-duṣṭāḥ
Related Themes: Agni Purana 293 (nimitta-śāstra / dūta-lakṣaṇa)
FAQs
It teaches dūta-nimitta (messenger-omens): judging the success or failure of a mission by observing a messenger’s speech, gait/feet, and complexion-types (vāta–agni, hari, vāruṇa), classifying them as auspicious, middling, or inauspicious.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical statecraft-augury used in decision-making—linking observation-based omenology (nimitta-śāstra) with governance (rājadharma), showing the Purana’s wide coverage of applied knowledge.
By advising discernment of auspicious and inauspicious signs before action, it aims to reduce adharmic risk and avoid harmful outcomes, aligning choices with favorable indications and thereby supporting welfare and merit-oriented conduct.