Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 2
Chapter 242 — पुरुषलक्षणं
Purusha-Lakshana): Marks of a Man (Physiognomy
समुद्र उवाच पुंसाञ्च लक्षणं वक्ष्ये स्त्रीणाञ्चैव शुभाशुभं एकाधिको द्विशुक्रश् च त्रिगन्भीरस्तथैव च
samudra uvāca puṃsāñca lakṣaṇaṃ vakṣye strīṇāñcaiva śubhāśubhaṃ ekādhiko dviśukraś ca triganbhīrastathaiva ca
Samudra dit : “Je décrirai les marques corporelles des hommes, et celles des femmes également, favorables ou défavorables. Parmi ces catégories figurent le type ‘avec un en excès’, le ‘à deux semences’, et aussi le ‘à triple profondeur’.”
Samudra
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Physiognomic classification for judging auspiciousness/inauspiciousness in matchmaking, selection of attendants, and omen-based decision-making.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Samudrika: Śubhāśubha-lakṣaṇa-vibhāga (male/female) and type-names","lookup_keywords":["samudrika","shubhashubha-lakshana","pum-lakshana","stri-lakshana","ekadhika"],"quick_summary":"Introduces the scope of samudrika—auspicious and inauspicious bodily marks for men and women—and begins with technical type-labels used for classification."}
Concept: Human body as a readable text of signs (nimitta) yielding śubha/āśubha indications.
Application: Use standardized categories to avoid purely subjective judgment in social/royal decisions.
Khanda Section: Samudrika-shastra (Physiognomy & Omens of Human Marks)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sage Samudra speaking as a teacher, presenting a scroll/tablet listing categories of bodily marks for men and women, with headings ‘śubha’ and ‘aśubha’ and technical type-names like ekādhika, dviśukra, trigambhīra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: seated rishi Samudra with stylized water motifs behind him; attendants holding palm-leaf lists split into auspicious/inauspicious columns; bold outlines and flat color fields.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Samudra as luminous guru with gold halo; ornate manuscript stand displaying two panels labeled śubha/aśubha; rich decorative borders and gold embossing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: didactic scene with Samudra pointing to a neatly ruled chart of classifications; fine linework, soft washes, emphasis on legible headings and orderly taxonomy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholarly assembly with Samudra dictating to scribes; a folio page visible with rubricated headings and category names; naturalistic faces, detailed textiles, quiet indoor setting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: samudra uvāca = samudraḥ uvāca (visarga sandhi); puṃsāñca = puṃsām ca; strīṇāñcaiva = strīṇām ca eva; dviśukraś = dviśukraḥ; triganbhīras = tri-gambhīraḥ (spelling normalized).
Related Themes: Agni Purana Puruṣa-lakṣaṇa and Strī-lakṣaṇa subsections within this adhyāya and following
FAQs
It introduces Samudrika-śāstra: a technical system for reading auspicious and inauspicious bodily marks of men and women, including named constitutional/typological categories.
By cataloging a specialized applied-knowledge tradition (physiognomy/omenology) alongside other disciplines, the Agni Purana functions as a compendium that preserves diverse shastric taxonomies used in social and predictive contexts.
It frames bodily characteristics as indicators of शुभ/अशुभ (fortunate/unfortunate) outcomes, encouraging discernment about destiny and conduct through traditional signs rather than prescribing a direct ritual act.