Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 3
युद्धयात्रा (Yuddhayātrā) — The War-Expedition
शत्रोर्वा व्यसने यायात् दैवाद्यैः पीडितं परं भूकम्पो यान्दिशं याति याञ्च केतुर्व्यदूषयत्
śatrorvā vyasane yāyāt daivādyaiḥ pīḍitaṃ paraṃ bhūkampo yāndiśaṃ yāti yāñca keturvyadūṣayat
ຫຼືອີກຢ່າງໜຶ່ງ ສັດຕູອາດຕົກຢູ່ໃນຄວາມວິບັດ ຖືກບີບຄັ້ນຢ່າງໜັກໂດຍເຫດປັດໃຈຈາກຟ້າ ແລະອື່ນໆທີ່ຄວບຄຸມບໍ່ໄດ້; ສິ່ງນີ້ພິຈາລະນາໄດ້ຈາກທິດທາງທີ່ແຜ່ນດິນໄຫວເຄື່ອນໄປ ແລະທິດທາງທີ່ເກຕຸ (ດາວຫາງ) ໄດ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ເສຍມົນທິນ।
Lord Agni (in dialogue instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Using nimitta (portents) like earthquake direction and comet-taint direction to infer enemy calamity and decide timing/advantage in policy and war.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nimitta for Enemy Calamity—Earthquake and Comet Direction (Bhūkampa & Ketu)","lookup_keywords":["nimitta","bhūkampa","ketu","directional omen","enemy calamity"],"quick_summary":"Directional movement of earthquakes and the quarter tainted by a comet are read as signs that the enemy is afflicted by uncontrollable forces, indicating an opportune moment."}
Concept: Daiva (uncontrollable factors) influence worldly outcomes; prudent rulers integrate nimitta-knowledge into decision-making.
Application: Maintain omen-observers; correlate directional portents with intelligence reports before acting.
Khanda Section: Jyotiṣa–Nimitta-śāstra (Omens and portents: earthquakes, comets, calamities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Cosmic/Directional quarters
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A court astrologer points to a sky with a blazing comet and to a map of directions; the ground shows tremors moving toward a quarter, while enemy banners in that direction appear distressed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized ketu in the sky over a directional mandala; trembling earth motif; astrologer with palm-leaf charts; bold reds and blacks for ominous tone.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: comet rendered with gold highlights against dark sky; astrologer and king consult a directional wheel; ornate frame and gilded accents.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional panel with compass-like diś-chakra, arrows showing quake movement, comet tainting a quarter; neat labeling and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: night sky with detailed comet tail; scholars with astrolabe and scrolls; landscape subtly cracked from quake; refined realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śatrorvā → śatroḥ vā; yāndiśaṃ → yām diśam; yāñca → yām ca (elliptic yāṃ diśam); keturvyadūṣayat → ketuḥ vyadūṣayat.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 227 (nimitta and śakuna sections, adjacent verses)
FAQs
It imparts nimitta-vidyā (omen-science): judging outcomes—especially an enemy’s impending misfortune—by noting the direction of an earthquake’s movement and the quarter afflicted by a comet (ketu).
Beyond theology, it preserves practical prognostic lore used in governance and public decision-making, integrating jyotiṣa/nimitta observations (earthquakes, comets, directions) into applied statecraft forecasting.
It frames large calamities as daiva-driven (beyond human control), encouraging rulers and householders to read cosmic disorder as a signal for restraint, remedial rites, and ethical vigilance rather than mere panic.