Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 22
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
याने तद्दर्शनं शस्तं सव्यमङ्गस्य वाप्यथ चौरैर् मोषमथाख्याति मयूरो भिन्ननिस्वनः
yāne taddarśanaṃ śastaṃ savyamaṅgasya vāpyatha caurair moṣamathākhyāti mayūro bhinnanisvanaḥ
Au moment de partir en véhicule ou en voyage, la vision de ce présage est louée comme favorable pour celui dont le côté gauche est propice ; mais un paon poussant un cri brisé et dissonant annonce un vol commis par des brigands.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Travel-omen assessment: interpret animal/bird sightings and sounds at departure to decide whether to proceed, take precautions, or postpone.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Yāna-prayāṇa-śakuna: mayūra-bhinnanissvana and theft omen","lookup_keywords":["yāna-śakuna","mayūra","bhinnanissvana","cora-mosha","vāma-śakuna"],"quick_summary":"At the start of a journey, certain sights are praised as auspicious depending on left/right favorability; a peacock giving a broken/discordant cry is read as a warning of theft by robbers."}
Concept: Nimitta (omen) as a practical decision-aid; left/right (vāma-dakṣiṇa) positional logic in śakuna-reading.
Application: Use omens as risk-signals: secure valuables, increase vigilance, or delay travel when theft-portents appear.
Khanda Section: Jyotiḥśāstra / Śakuna-śāstra (Omens and prognostics)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler about to depart in a cart/vehicle observes omens; a peacock nearby cries discordantly, while attendants clutch belongings in concern about theft.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, yātrā scene with a chariot/cart at the threshold, peacock with open beak emitting jagged sound-lines, anxious travelers, palm trees, traditional ornaments, minimal perspective.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on the vehicle and ornaments, central traveler at departure, peacock at side with stylized feathers, symbolic thieves in background shadows, rich reds and greens, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional tableau: left/right omen markers near the traveler, peacock with broken-cry glyphs, calm narrative composition, muted palette with fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed roadside departure scene, peacock on a low wall crying, travelers securing satchels, subtle depiction of lurking robbers, fine textiles, naturalistic foliage, crisp architectural elements."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: taddarśanaṃ = tat + darśanam; savyamaṅgasya = savya + aṅgasya; caurair = cauraiḥ (visarga/sandhi in recitation); moṣamathākhyāti = moṣam + atha + ākhyāti; bhinnanisvanaḥ = bhinna + nisvanaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 230 (Śakuna/Nimitta-prakaraṇa); Agni Purana (Jyotiḥśāstra sections on nimitta and yātrā-śakuna)
FAQs
It teaches nimitta/journey-omens: certain sightings at departure are considered auspicious (especially when the left side is deemed favorable), while a peacock’s discordant cry is taken as a prognostic of imminent theft.
Beyond theology, the text catalogues practical decision-tools—shakuna and nimitta rules used for travel risk assessment (e.g., predicting robbery), showing the Agni Purana’s broad coverage of applied Jyotiḥśāstra and folk-prognostics.
Observing omens is framed as aligning one’s actions with dharmic timing—avoiding inauspicious moments reduces harm and loss, encouraging vigilance and prudent conduct rather than reckless travel.