Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 14
Utpāta-śānti
Pacification of Portents
सप्ताहाभ्यनतरे वृष्टावद्भुतं भयकृद्भवेत् शान्तिं विना त्रिभिर्वषैर् अद्भुतं भयकृद्भवेत्
saptāhābhyanatare vṛṣṭāvadbhutaṃ bhayakṛdbhavet śāntiṃ vinā tribhirvaṣair adbhutaṃ bhayakṛdbhavet
ಒಂದು ವಾರದೊಳಗೆ ಅಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ/ಅಕಾಲ ಮಳೆಯ ರೂಪದ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಸಂಭವಿಸಿದರೆ ಅದು ಭಯಕಾರಕವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಶಾಂತಿಕರ್ಮವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಮೂರು ವರ್ಷಗಳೊಳಗೆ ಅದೇ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಭಯಕಾರಕ ಫಲವನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತದೆ.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Timing rule for omen fruition and the necessity of śānti-prayoga: assess urgency (within a week) and mitigate by performing pacificatory rites to avert harm within the stated period.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Phala-kāla of Vikṛta-vṛṣṭi and the necessity of Śānti","lookup_keywords":["vikṛta-vṛṣṭi","śānti","phala-kāla","saptāha","trivarṣa"],"quick_summary":"Extraordinary rainfall is a fear-producing omen if it occurs within a week; if śānti is neglected, the omen is said to mature into harm within three years—hence prompt pacification is advised."}
Concept: Adharma is not implied, but neglect of prescribed remedial action (śānti) allows feared outcomes to ripen; dhārmic response is time-sensitive.
Application: On witnessing abnormal rainfall as an omen, promptly commission/perform śānti (homa, japa, dāna as prescribed in the surrounding prayoga) rather than waiting for consequences.
Khanda Section: Nimitta-Shastra (Utpata-Adbhuta-Lakshana) / Shanti-Prayoga
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village experiences sudden extraordinary rain; elders consult a sage who urges immediate śānti; a fire-altar is prepared for pacificatory rites to avert fear within the stated time windows.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, torrential out-of-season rain over a temple courtyard, sage indicating urgency (seven days), śānti-homa with lamps and offerings, stylized clouds and rhythmic rain lines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa-kuṇḍa with gold flames, devotees offering ghee, dark rain clouds above with gold-edged halo motifs, ornate temple setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of śānti sequence beside a rain-omen scene; calm priestly figures, clear altar geometry, soft colors and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, monsoon-like scene with unusual rain, community gathering around a ritual fire, scholar-priest reading from a manuscript, architectural and landscape finesse"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सप्ताहाभ्यनतरे → सप्ताह-अभ्यन्तरे; वृष्टावद्भुतं → वृष्टौ + अद्भुतम्; भयकृद्भवेत् → भयकृत् + भवेत्; त्रिभिर्वषैर् → त्रिभिः + वर्षैः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 262 (Śānti-prayoga context for utpāta)
FAQs
It gives a nimitta (omen) rule: extraordinary rainfall within a week is an adbhuta-uptāta, and it prescribes śānti (pacificatory ritual) as the practical countermeasure to prevent harmful fruition.
It exemplifies the Purana’s inclusion of applied predictive sciences—nimitta/utpāta-lakṣaṇa and ritual remediation—alongside theology, making it a compendium that covers social-religious risk management through śānti practices.
The verse frames śānti as a dharmic means to neutralize adverse outcomes indicated by portents, emphasizing timely ritual appeasement to restore harmony and avert fear-producing results.