Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 1
Chapter 229 — शकुनानि (Śakuna: Omens)
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे स्वप्नाध्यायी नाम अष्टाविंशत्यधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ एकोनत्रिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः शकुनानि पुष्कर उवाच औषधानि च युक्तानि धान्यं कृष्णमशोभनं कार्पासं तृणशुष्कञ्च गोमयं वै धनानि च
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe svapnādhyāyī nāma aṣṭāviṃśatyadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ekonatriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ śakunāni puṣkara uvāca auṣadhāni ca yuktāni dhānyaṃ kṛṣṇamaśobhanaṃ kārpāsaṃ tṛṇaśuṣkañca gomayaṃ vai dhanāni ca
Ainsi, dans l’Agni Mahāpurāṇa s’achève le chapitre 228, intitulé « Chapitre des Rêves ». Commence maintenant le chapitre 229 : « Présages ». Puṣkara dit : « Les remèdes déjà préparés et le grain noir—sont de mauvais augure ; de même le coton, l’herbe sèche, la bouse de vache, et aussi les richesses (argent/objets précieux). »
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Śakuna-śāstra for interpreting encountered objects/visions as auspicious or inauspicious before rituals, journeys, trade, or royal undertakings.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Śakuna-prakaraṇa (Omens): Items Encountered—Medicines, Dark Grain, Cotton, Dry Grass, Cow-dung, Wealth","lookup_keywords":["śakuna","nimitta","svapna-adhyāya","auṣadha","dhānya"],"quick_summary":"Introduces the omens chapter and lists encountered items with their omen-value; notably, dark/black grain is marked inauspicious, while common materials like cotton, dry grass, cow-dung, and wealth are included as omen-signifiers depending on context."}
Concept: Nimitta-jñāna: reading signs in ordinary objects to guide timing and conduct of actions.
Application: Before starting a rite or venture, note what is first encountered; interpret it per śakuna lists to decide proceed/propitiate/avoid.
Khanda Section: Jyotiṣa / Śakuna-śāstra (Omens and oneiromancy within the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic lore)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sage (Puṣkara) begins teaching omens, with objects laid out: jars of prepared medicines, a heap of dark grain, cotton bolls, dried grass bundles, cow-dung cakes, and a pouch of coins/valuables.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: seated rishi teaching disciples, stylized trays showing auṣadha jars, black grain heap, cotton, dry grass, cow-dung cakes, coins; warm earthy palette, temple-education ambience, ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Puṣkara as central guru with halo-like arch, disciples at sides; gold-embossed trays of medicines and wealth, cotton and grain rendered richly; heavy gold work on borders and vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: didactic layout—guru pointing to labeled objects (auṣadha, kṛṣṇa-dhānya, kārpāsa, tṛṇa-śuṣka, gomaya, dhana); fine lines, soft colors, manuscript-illustration feel.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholarly gathering in a pavilion; detailed still-life of medicines in glass/ceramic, grain sacks, cotton, grass, cow-dung cakes, coins; naturalistic textures, delicate shading, calligraphic margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति + (अ) (यणादेश/लोप-प्रयोगः; पदान्त-इकारस्य परे स्वरादौ संयोग-रूपेण ‘इत्य’); नभो 'ध्यायः = अध्यायः इत्यादौ अवग्रहः (’ = अ)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 228: Svapna-adhyāya (Dreams) colophon preceding this; Agni Purana 229: Śakuna-prakaraṇa continuation in subsequent verses
FAQs
It opens the Śakuna (omen) section and lists everyday substances (prepared medicines, grain, cotton, dry grass, cow-dung, wealth) as items whose appearance/association is read for auspicious or inauspicious indication—especially noting black grain as unfavorable.
By shifting from dream-lore (svapna) to omen-lore (śakuna), it demonstrates the Purana’s catalog-like coverage of applied knowledge—divination markers, household materials, and practical prognostics alongside religious narratives.
Reading omens is presented as a way to align actions with favorable timing and avoid inauspicious undertakings, thereby reducing obstacles and supporting dharmic, merit-producing choices.