Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 22
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
याने तद्दर्शनं शस्तं सव्यमङ्गस्य वाप्यथ चौरैर् मोषमथाख्याति मयूरो भिन्ननिस्वनः
yāne taddarśanaṃ śastaṃ savyamaṅgasya vāpyatha caurair moṣamathākhyāti mayūro bhinnanisvanaḥ
ವಾಹನದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಥವಾ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊರಟಾಗ, ಎಡಭಾಗ ಶುಭವಾಗಿರುವವನಿಗೆ ಆ ಶಕುನದರ್ಶನ ಪ್ರಶಂಸನೀಯ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಂಗಳಕರ; ಆದರೆ ನವಿಲಿನ ಮುರಿದ/ವಿಕೃತ ಕೂಗು ಕಳ್ಳರಿಂದ ಕಳವು ಸಂಭವಿಸುವುದನ್ನು ಸೂಚಿಸುತ್ತದೆ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Travel-omen assessment: interpret animal/bird sightings and sounds at departure to decide whether to proceed, take precautions, or postpone.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Yāna-prayāṇa-śakuna: mayūra-bhinnanissvana and theft omen","lookup_keywords":["yāna-śakuna","mayūra","bhinnanissvana","cora-mosha","vāma-śakuna"],"quick_summary":"At the start of a journey, certain sights are praised as auspicious depending on left/right favorability; a peacock giving a broken/discordant cry is read as a warning of theft by robbers."}
Concept: Nimitta (omen) as a practical decision-aid; left/right (vāma-dakṣiṇa) positional logic in śakuna-reading.
Application: Use omens as risk-signals: secure valuables, increase vigilance, or delay travel when theft-portents appear.
Khanda Section: Jyotiḥśāstra / Śakuna-śāstra (Omens and prognostics)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler about to depart in a cart/vehicle observes omens; a peacock nearby cries discordantly, while attendants clutch belongings in concern about theft.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, yātrā scene with a chariot/cart at the threshold, peacock with open beak emitting jagged sound-lines, anxious travelers, palm trees, traditional ornaments, minimal perspective.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on the vehicle and ornaments, central traveler at departure, peacock at side with stylized feathers, symbolic thieves in background shadows, rich reds and greens, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional tableau: left/right omen markers near the traveler, peacock with broken-cry glyphs, calm narrative composition, muted palette with fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed roadside departure scene, peacock on a low wall crying, travelers securing satchels, subtle depiction of lurking robbers, fine textiles, naturalistic foliage, crisp architectural elements."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: taddarśanaṃ = tat + darśanam; savyamaṅgasya = savya + aṅgasya; caurair = cauraiḥ (visarga/sandhi in recitation); moṣamathākhyāti = moṣam + atha + ākhyāti; bhinnanisvanaḥ = bhinna + nisvanaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 230 (Śakuna/Nimitta-prakaraṇa); Agni Purana (Jyotiḥśāstra sections on nimitta and yātrā-śakuna)
FAQs
It teaches nimitta/journey-omens: certain sightings at departure are considered auspicious (especially when the left side is deemed favorable), while a peacock’s discordant cry is taken as a prognostic of imminent theft.
Beyond theology, the text catalogues practical decision-tools—shakuna and nimitta rules used for travel risk assessment (e.g., predicting robbery), showing the Agni Purana’s broad coverage of applied Jyotiḥśāstra and folk-prognostics.
Observing omens is framed as aligning one’s actions with dharmic timing—avoiding inauspicious moments reduces harm and loss, encouraging vigilance and prudent conduct rather than reckless travel.