Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
आरोहणं न चेद्दद्यात् प्रतीपं वा गृहं व्रजेत् मदं वा वारणो जह्याद्राजघातकरो भवेत्
ārohaṇaṃ na ceddadyāt pratīpaṃ vā gṛhaṃ vrajet madaṃ vā vāraṇo jahyādrājaghātakaro bhavet
Si l’on ne fournit pas de moyen de monter (siège ou monture), ou si l’on se rend dans une maison avec une attitude d’opposition hostile, ou si l’on fait perdre à un éléphant son musth, on devient cause ou instrument de la mort du roi.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Court protocol and conduct rules framed as high-stakes: failures in royal service and hostile approach are treated as causes of regicide/royal ruin.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Rājaghātakara-nimitta: protocol breaches that become ‘king-killing’ causes","lookup_keywords":["rājaghātakara","ārohaṇa-dāna","pratīpa-gamana","gaja-mada","rāja-nīti"],"quick_summary":"Not providing proper mounting/assistance, approaching a house in hostility, or causing an elephant to lose musth are classified as acts that lead to the king’s destruction—i.e., grave breaches of royal order."}
Weapon Type: Elephant corps (gaja) and royal conveyance
Concept: Rājasevā (service to the king) and social conduct are framed as dharma with direct consequences for political survival.
Application: Codify and enforce court etiquette; treat negligence and hostile comportment as punishable security risks.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma / Niti-shastra (Governance, royal protocol, and statecraft)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal attendant fails to provide a mounting step/stool; another figure approaches a house with hostile posture; a mahout mishandles an elephant causing it to lose musth—ministers warn these acts endanger the king.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, three-panel didactic scene: missing mounting aid, hostile approach to a doorway, elephant with subdued musth, ministers with stern gestures, strong outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted royal paraphernalia, attendant holding an unused mounting stool, elephant with ornate caparison, court scene emphasizing protocol, embossed jewelry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional triptych with clear gestures and courtly refinement, captions implied, emphasis on etiquette and elephant-handling","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court and street vignettes with precise architecture, expressive body language showing hostility, detailed elephant and mahout, officials recording the breach"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चेद्दद्यात् = चेत् + दद्यात्; जह्याद्राजघातकरः = जह्यात् + राजघातकरः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (Nīti/Rājadharma continuations around śakuna and conduct)
It gives practical rājadharma guidance: specific breaches of royal protocol and security—refusing required mounting assistance, approaching in hostility, or interfering with a war/royal elephant’s musth—are treated as gravely dangerous acts.
Beyond theology, it preserves administrative and security norms of kingship, including courtly logistics (mounting/conveyance) and war-elephant management, showing the Purana’s coverage of governance and statecraft.
Such acts are framed as equivalent to causing the king’s death (a major sin/treason), implying severe karmic consequence and social condemnation for endangering sovereign order.