Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4
युद्धयात्रा (Yuddhayātrā) — The War-Expedition
विद्विष्टनाशकं सैन्यं सम्भूतान्तःप्रकोपनं शरीरस्फुरणे धन्ये तथा सुस्वप्रदर्शने
vidviṣṭanāśakaṃ sainyaṃ sambhūtāntaḥprakopanaṃ śarīrasphuraṇe dhanye tathā susvapradarśane
द्वेष्य शत्रु का नाश करने वाली सेना उत्पन्न होती है और भीतर का उद्वेग प्रकट होता है। जब शरीर में शुभ स्फुरण हो तथा उत्तम स्वप्न दिखाई दें—(ये) संकेत हैं।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s encyclopedic teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Interpreting auspicious bodily twitching and good dreams as favorable omens for military success and enemy destruction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śakuna Indicators—Body Twitching and Auspicious Dreams","lookup_keywords":["śakuna","śarīra-sphuraṇa","svapna","auspicious signs","military omen"],"quick_summary":"Auspicious bodily twitching and favorable dreams are treated as signs of arising power and the prospect of destroying the hostile enemy."}
Concept: Nimitta can be internal (bodily) and mental (dreams), not only external; they are integrated into practical decision-making.
Application: Record and compare repeated bodily/dream signs with external intelligence; treat them as supportive, not sole, grounds for action.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha & Shakuna-vidya (Omens, dreams, and bodily portents)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A commander experiences auspicious body-twitching and recounts a good dream to an omen-reader; behind them soldiers prepare, sensing favorable momentum.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: close-up of commander with expressive eyes, omen-reader with palm-leaf; symbolic dream cloud showing victory; flat colors and decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: auspicious dream vignette above—victory banner, lotus, conch—gold accents; below, commander and priest interpret signs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional split-scene—left shows śarīra-sphuraṇa (hand/eye twitch) with labels; right shows auspicious dream symbols; calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate interior with bedchamber dream scene; next panel shows consultation with scholar; fine detailing of textiles and expressions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Compounds treated as lexical units: vidviṣṭa-nāśakam; sambhūta-antaḥ-prakopanam; śarīra-sphuraṇe; su-svapna-darśane.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 227 (dreams/omens continuation)
FAQs
Śakuna/Nimitta-vidyā: reading outcomes (especially conflict-related) from signs such as bodily twitching (śarīra-sphuraṇa) and the appearance of auspicious dreams (su-svapna).
It preserves practical prognostics alongside other disciplines—linking warfare outcomes (sainya, enemy-destruction) with jyotiṣa-style omen reading (nimitta, svapna), showing the text’s broad, applied scope.
Auspicious signs (dhanya-sphuraṇa, su-svapna) are treated as indicators of favorable karmic timing and divine assent, encouraging action aligned with dharma and prudent restraint when signs are adverse.