Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 14
Chapter 228 — स्वप्नाध्यायः
Svapnādhāyaḥ / Chapter on Dreams
तन्त्रीवाद्यविनोदश्चेत्यादिः, तैलस्य कृशरस्य चेत्यन्तः पाठः छ , झ पुस्तकद्वये नास्ति विवाहोत्सव एव चेति ज तासामेव च मैथुनमिति ज हानिश् चैवेत्यादिः क्रीडनं तथेत्यन्तः पाठः ज पुस्तके नास्ति स्नेहपानावगाहौ च रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनं इत्यधान्यानि स्वप्नानि तेषामकथनं शुभं
tantrīvādyavinodaścetyādiḥ, tailasya kṛśarasya cetyantaḥ pāṭhaḥ cha , jha pustakadvaye nāsti vivāhotsava eva ceti ja tāsāmeva ca maithunamiti ja hāniś caivetyādiḥ krīḍanaṃ tathetyantaḥ pāṭhaḥ ja pustake nāsti snehapānāvagāhau ca raktamālyānulepanaṃ ityadhānyāni svapnāni teṣāmakathanaṃ śubhaṃ
「『弦楽器の音楽を楽しむ』に始まり、『（夢に）油と米粥』に終わる」という読みに関しては、Cha本およびJha本には見えない。Ja本は「ただ婚礼の祝祭のみ」と読み、また「まさにそれら（の女たち）との交合」とも読む。Ja本には「損失…」に始まり「遊戯」に終わる段が欠けている。なお、（夢として）ギー/油を飲むこと、脂質の中で沐浴・浸没すること、赤い花鬘を身につけること、香膏を身体に塗ること等——これらおよび同類の夢は、他人に語らなければ吉祥である。
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) to sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Interpreting dream-omens (svapna-phala) and applying the practical rule that certain auspicious dreams should not be disclosed to preserve their benefic effect.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Svapna-śāstra: śubha-svapna and the rule of non-disclosure","lookup_keywords":["svapna-śāstra","śubha-svapna","anākhyāna","snehapāna","rakta-mālya"],"quick_summary":"Dreams involving unction (drinking ghee/oil), immersion, red garlands, and anointing are treated as auspicious—especially when kept private; the verse also preserves manuscript-variant notes typical of transmitted svapna lists."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Svapna as a nimitta (omen) whose efficacy is affected by speech/reticence; secrecy preserves śubha-phala.
Application: Keep a private dream-note rather than public telling; use it as a cue for increased śauca and worship.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha (Svapna-śāstra / Dream Omens)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sleeper experiences vivid auspicious imagery: drinking ghee/oil, bathing in unctuous liquid, wearing red garlands, and being anointed—followed by a gesture of silence (not telling others).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, split scene: sleeping figure on a mat; above, dream-cloud with red garlands, golden ghṛta vessel, anointing attendants; a finger-to-lips gesture indicating secrecy, flat iconic forms","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central auspicious dream symbols with gold-leaf vessels of ghṛta and ornate red garlands, the dreamer below in repose, rich decorative halo-like framing of dream motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional panel layout: four small vignettes (snehapāna, avagāha, rakta-mālya, anulepana) with captions implied, refined linework and soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate bedroom scene with a dream-vision cloud showing attendants anointing the dreamer and offering a golden bowl of ghee, red garlands rendered with fine detail, subtle gesture of discretion"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: This item contains extensive critical-apparatus prose (pāṭha-variants). Pada analysis provided for the main readable śloka portion: तन्त्रीवाद्यविनोदः ... स्नेहपानावगाहौ च रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनम् ... स्वप्नानि तेषाम् अकथनं शुभम्. Sandhi: तन्त्रीवाद्यविनोदः = तन्त्री-वाद्य-विनोदः; स्नेहपानावगाहौ = स्नेहपान + अवगाहौ (dvandva); रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनम् = रक्त-माल्य-अनुलेपनम्; तेषामकथनं = तेषाम् + अकथनम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana svapna-phala passages in adhyāya 228 (preceding/following lists of dreams)
FAQs
It gives a Svapna-śāstra rule: certain auspicious dreams (e.g., involving unctuous substances, red garlands, anointing) retain their benefic effect when kept confidential—i.e., not narrated to others.
It shows the text functioning as a compendium by preserving practical omen-lore (dream results) alongside editorial/manuscript traditions, indicating how Purāṇic knowledge was transmitted and applied in everyday decision-making.
The instruction implies that discretion protects the merit/auspicious momentum of a favorable dream; broadcasting it is treated as diminishing its positive karmic fruition.