Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 13
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
अमेध्यपूर्णवदनः काकः सर्वार्थसाधकः ज्ञेयाः पतत्रिणो ऽन्ये ऽपि काकवद् भृगुनन्दन
amedhyapūrṇavadanaḥ kākaḥ sarvārthasādhakaḥ jñeyāḥ patatriṇo 'nye 'pi kākavad bhṛgunandana
不浄の物で嘴が満ちた烏は、あらゆる目的を成就させるもの（成功を告げる吉兆）と知るべきである。ほかの鳥たちもまた烏と同様に理解せよ、ああブリグ族の喜びよ。
Lord Agni (in discourse to a Bhṛgu-line sage, commonly identified with Vasiṣṭha/Bhṛgu-nandana addressee in this section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Using bird-augury (especially crow behavior) to predict success in undertakings; extending the interpretive rule to other birds by analogy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Crow with impure-filled beak as sarvārtha-sādhaka (success-omen)","lookup_keywords":["kaka","amedhya","sarvartha-sadhaka","patatrin","shakuna-vidya"],"quick_summary":"A crow seen with its beak full of impure matter is defined here as an omen of accomplishing aims; similar interpretive logic is applied to other birds as well."}
Concept: Lakṣaṇa/śakuna knowledge: inference from observable signs; generalization from a paradigmatic case (crow) to a class (other birds).
Application: When a key omen is established, apply it carefully by similarity (ākṛti/ācāra) to related signs, while noting context (direction, time, proximity).
Khanda Section: Shakuna-vidya (Omens and augury through animals and birds)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A crow stands prominently with its beak filled (symbolically ‘impure’), while other birds gather around, and a learned observer explains that this indicates success.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central black crow with highlighted beak contents (symbolic), surrounding birds in stylized forms, sage-like figure teaching, bold flat colors and temple-mural ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, crow rendered with gold outline accents, other birds in a semicircle, teacher figure with palm-leaf manuscript, rich decorative border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic classroom feel: guru pointing to crow and then to other birds, subtle shading, clear iconographic labeling of ‘sarvārtha-sādhaka’","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic crow with beak full, garden setting with varied birds, scholar addressing a patron, fine detailing of feathers and foliage"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अमेध्यपूर्णवदनः = अमेध्य + पूर्ण + वदनः; सर्वार्थसाधकः = सर्व + अर्थ + साधकः; पतत्रिणोऽन्येऽपि = पतत्रिणः + अन्ये + अपि; काकवद् = काकवत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (crow-omens; bird-augury rules)
FAQs
It teaches shakuna-vidyā: interpreting the crow (and by extension other birds) as an omen indicating the successful accomplishment of one’s intended objective (sarvārtha-siddhi).
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical omen-science used in travel, decision-making, and royal or household planning—showing its wide-ranging, applied knowledge tradition.
Reading omens is framed as aligning human action with perceived cosmic संकेत (signs); treating the crow here as auspicious encourages confident, timely action rather than fear, supporting dharmic resolve and successful undertaking.