Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11

Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens

Devanagari script

गोश्वोष्ट्रगर्दभश्वानः सारिका गृहगोधिका चटका भासकूर्माद्याः कथिता ग्रामवासिनः

Transliteration

gośvoṣṭragardabhaśvānaḥ sārikā gṛhagodhikā caṭakā bhāsakūrmādyāḥ kathitā grāmavāsinaḥ

Translation

Vaches, chevaux, chameaux, ânes et chiens ; le mainate ; le lézard des maisons ; le moineau ; le corbeau ; et la tortue et d’autres encore — tels sont, dit-on, les êtres qui demeurent dans les villages (créatures domestiques ou villageoises).

Word by Word

• गोश्वोष्ट्रगर्दभश्वानः: cows, dogs, camels, donkeys, (and) dogs
• गोश्वोष्ट्रगर्दभश्वानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + श्वन् + उष्ट्र + गर्दभ + श्वान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (समाहार/इतरेतर)—‘गवः च श्वानः च उष्ट्राः च गर्दभाः च श्वानाः च’ (सूची)

• सारिका: myna bird
• सारिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गृहगोधिका: house-lizard
• गृहगोधिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह + गोधिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘गृहे गोधिका’

• चटका: sparrow
• चटका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चटका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भासकूर्माद्याः: crows, tortoises, and others
• भासकूर्माद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास + कूर्म + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ सहित समाहार-सूची (enumerative)

• कथिताः: are said/mentioned
• कथिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘(एते)’ इत्यस्य विधेय

• ग्रामवासिनः: village-dwellers
• ग्रामवासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘ग्रामे वासिनः’

Speaker

Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) addressing the sage Vasiṣṭha

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: Settlement

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: भासकूर्माद्याः = भास + कूर्म + आद्याः (आदि-शब्देन सह); gośvoṣṭragardabhaśvānaḥ treated as a dvandva list-compound.

Characters & Entities

• Agni Purana
• Grāmavāsin (village-dweller category)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It imparts nighaṇṭu/lexicographic knowledge: a technical classification and standardized Sanskrit naming of grāmya (village/domiciled) animals and birds.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

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.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

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.