Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 14
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
स्कन्धावारापसव्यस्थाः श्वानो विप्रविनाशकाः इन्द्रस्थाने नरेन्द्रस्य पुरेशस्य तु गोपुरे
skandhāvārāpasavyasthāḥ śvāno vipravināśakāḥ indrasthāne narendrasya pureśasya tu gopure
Les chiens postés du côté apasavya (gauche/contraire, inauspicieux) du camp militaire sont dits destructeurs des brāhmaṇa ; (un tel présage est relevé) à la « position d’Indra » du roi et au gopura, la tour-porte du seigneur de la cité.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Reading security-related omens in military camps and city gates; adjusting guard placement and performing protective measures when inauspicious signs appear.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Camp-and-gate omen: dogs on the apasavya side at Indra-position and gopura","lookup_keywords":["skandhavara","apasavya","shvana","indra-sthana","gopura"],"quick_summary":"Dogs positioned on the inauspicious (apasavya/left-contrary) side of an army camp are read as a harmful omen—specifically ‘brahmin-destroying’—noted at the king’s Indra-quarter position and at the city gate-tower; it signals disorder and calls for corrective protection."}
Concept: Rājadharma includes maintaining auspicious order in space; neglect of signs at strategic nodes (camp, gate) foretells social harm.
Application: Audit camp/gate perimeters, correct apasavya anomalies, reinforce protection of brahmins and civic order, and perform śānti when repeated ominous signs occur.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Pura-raksha (Governance, fort/city security, omens and protective arrangements)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fortified city gate with a tall gopura; an army camp nearby. Dogs sit or bark on the left/contrary side of the camp alignment; officials and priests note the omen at the king’s Indra-quarter station.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized gopura and camp tents, directional markers, dogs on apasavya side, king with attendants, priest indicating Indra-sthāna, bold colors and rhythmic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate gopura with gold highlights, king seated near a marked ‘Indra’ post, dogs on the left side, attendants in rich attire, embossed architectural detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical layout feel: camp plan with left/right orientation, gopura elevation, dogs placed on apasavya side, officials discussing corrective measures, clean lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed fort gate and encampment, dogs clustered on one side, court officers and a pandit consulting, fine architectural perspective and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्कन्धावारापसव्यस्थाः = स्कन्ध + आवार + अपसव्य + स्थाः; विप्रविनाशकाः = विप्र + विनाशकाः; इन्द्रस्थाने = इन्द्र + स्थाने; पुरेशस्य = पुर + ईशस्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (omens in camps, gates, directions); Agni Purana sections on rājadharma/pura-rakṣā (city protection themes)
FAQs
It gives an omen-based diagnostic rule for royal/civic protection: the inauspicious placement of dogs (apasavya) in an army-camp or at key directional stations (Indra-sthāna, gopura) is treated as a harmful sign, prompting corrective security/ritual measures.
Beyond theology, it records practical statecraft—how to read portents in military and urban spaces (camp layout, gate-towers, directional stations), blending rajadharma, vastu-directionality, and protective administration.
Because brāhmaṇas represent ritual order and auspiciousness, an omen described as “vipra-vināśaka” signals a rupture of dharma; recognizing and remedying such signs is framed as protecting merit (puṇya) and restoring auspicious order in the realm.