Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 25
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
पृष्ठतो निन्दितफलस्तित्तिरिस्तु न शस्यते एणा वराहाः पृषता वामा भूत्वा तु दक्षिणाः
pṛṣṭhato ninditaphalastittiristu na śasyate eṇā varāhāḥ pṛṣatā vāmā bhūtvā tu dakṣiṇāḥ
Bila tanda atau suara tittiri (burung partridge) terdengar dari belakang, hasilnya tercela (tidak mujur) sehingga tidak dianjurkan. Namun rusa (eṇa), babi hutan (varāha), dan kijang totol (pṛṣata) yang tampak di sisi kiri justru memberi hasil baik seperti pertanda sisi kanan.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ninditaphalastittiristu = nindita-phalaḥ + tittiriḥ + tu (visarga sandhi); śasyate is used in sense ‘is to be praised/recommended’.
FAQs
It teaches Shakuna-vidya: interpreting bird calls and animal appearances by direction (behind/left/right) to judge whether an undertaking is auspicious.
Alongside theology and rites, it preserves practical divinatory rules (omens for timing and direction), showing the Agni Purana’s broad coverage of applied knowledge used in daily decisions.
Acting in harmony with auspicious signs is presented as aligning one’s actions with dharmic order, avoiding inauspicious beginnings that could lead to obstacles and unfavorable outcomes.