Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 19
Utpāta-śānti
Pacification of Portents
अतिवृष्टिरनावृष्टिर्दुर्भिक्षायोभयं मतं सिद्ध्या इति घ , ञ च देवताश्चेति ख , छ च आवटन्तीति ख , घ , छ , ञ च अनृतौ त्रिदिनारब्धवृष्टिर्ज्ञेया भयाय हि
ativṛṣṭiranāvṛṣṭirdurbhikṣāyobhayaṃ mataṃ siddhyā iti gha , ña ca devatāśceti kha , cha ca āvaṭantīti kha , gha , cha , ña ca anṛtau tridinārabdhavṛṣṭirjñeyā bhayāya hi
अतिवृष्टि और अनावृष्टि—दोनों को दुर्भिक्ष का कारण माना गया है; और ऋतु के विपरीत तीन दिन तक आरम्भ होकर चलने वाली वर्षा भी निश्चय ही भय का सूचक समझनी चाहिए।
Lord Agni (narrating the omens section to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Forecasting public calamity (famine/danger) from rainfall anomalies—excess, drought, and unseasonal three-day rains—so rulers/communities can perform śānti and plan relief.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Vṛṣṭi-vaikṛtya as famine/danger omen","lookup_keywords":["ativṛṣṭi","anāvṛṣṭi","durbhikṣa","anṛtu-vṛṣṭi","tri-dina-vṛṣṭi"],"quick_summary":"Both too much rain and too little rain are read as causes of famine. Unseasonal rain persisting for three days is specifically marked as a danger-omen, prompting precautionary rites and practical preparedness."}
Concept: Reading natural patterns as predictive signs for collective welfare; aligning human action (policy/ritual) with seasonal order.
Application: Use rainfall anomalies as triggers for grain storage, irrigation measures, charity/relief, and appropriate śānti rites to calm public fear.
Khanda Section: Jyotiṣa & Śakuna-śāstra (Omens of rain, famine, and public calamity)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Contrasting scenes of torrential rain and parched fields; then an unseasonal rain lasting three days, with anxious farmers and officials interpreting it as a danger sign.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split composition: left heavy monsoon deluge, right cracked earth drought, central panel shows unseasonal rain over three days symbolized by three cloud bands, villagers seeking śānti at a shrine","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, personified rain clouds with gold accents above fields, juxtaposed with famine imagery (empty granaries), king performing charity, ornate borders and gilded highlights","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional tableau: calendar/season markers, three-day rain indicated by three sequential cloud motifs, officials recording omens, farmers preparing granaries, soft colors and fine lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed agrarian landscape with canals and fields, sudden off-season rain over three days shown in narrative sequence, court astrologer advising the governor, delicate cloud rendering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Malhar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ativṛṣṭiranāvṛṣṭiḥ = ativṛṣṭiḥ + anāvṛṣṭiḥ. durbhikṣāyobhayaṃ = durbhikṣa-āyaḥ + ubhayam (visarga sandhi). devatāśceti = devatāḥ + ca + iti. tridinārabdhavṛṣṭiḥ = tri-dina-ārabdha-vṛṣṭiḥ. Note: the inserted ‘gha/ña/kha/cha’ are manuscript/edition markers and not part of the Sanskrit syntax.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 262 (śakuna/utpāta and phala)
FAQs
It teaches śakuna/jyotiṣa-style nimitta-reading: identifying excessive rain, drought, and unseasonal three-day rain as predictive indicators of scarcity and danger.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical prognostics about climate irregularities and social risk—showing the text’s coverage of applied knowledge (nimitta-śāstra) relevant to governance and public welfare.
By recognizing ominous natural signs, a community can undertake timely protective rites and ethical restraint; the teaching frames disorder in seasons as a warning that calls for vigilance and corrective dharmic action.