Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
पूर्वा पूर्वा च विज्ञेया सा तेषां बलवत्तरा दिवाचरो रात्रिचरस् तथा रात्रौ दिवाचरः
pūrvā pūrvā ca vijñeyā sā teṣāṃ balavattarā divācaro rātricaras tathā rātrau divācaraḥ
ໃນບັນດານັ້ນ ສ່ວນທີ່ກ່ອນໆ ພຶງຮູ້ວ່າມີກຳລັງແຮງກວ່າສ່ວນທີ່ຕາມມາ. ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ຜູ້ເຄື່ອນໄຫວຕອນກາງວັນ ກາຍເປັນຜູ້ເຄື່ອນໄຫວຕອນກາງຄືນ; ແລະໃນກາງຄືນ ກໍກາຍເປັນຜູ້ເຄື່ອນໄຫວຕອນກາງວັນ.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Prioritize earlier time-segments as stronger for judging outcomes; adjust omen interpretation by diurnal/nocturnal behavior (day-movers vs night-movers) depending on whether it is day or night.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kāla-bala: Pūrvapūrva-balatā & Divācara/Rātricara Parivṛtti","lookup_keywords":["kāla-bala","pūrvapūrva","divācara","rātricara","kāla-nirṇaya"],"quick_summary":"Earlier portions of a temporal sequence carry greater strength than later ones. Also, the interpretive category of a mover (day/ night) is reversed relative to the time observed, refining omen strength by context."}
Concept: Contextual inversion: the same entity/sign changes interpretive class by kāla (time), and earlier kāla-units dominate later ones in bala (strength).
Application: For muhūrta/omen judgment, weight early watches/segments more; interpret a creature’s ‘proper’ activity-time against the observed time to decide whether it is ‘out of place’ (thus significant).
Khanda Section: Jyotiṣa / Kāla-nirṇaya (Day–Night Strength and Temporal Classification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A time-wheel showing earlier segments highlighted as stronger; day scene with a creature behaving unusually, and night scene with reversed classification; an astrologer annotates the rule.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large kāla-cakra with first segments painted brighter; left panel daytime with a nocturnal animal appearing; right panel nighttime with a diurnal bird active; sage pointing to the wheel; bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gilded kāla-cakra with emphasized first quadrant; two small narrative vignettes day/night with animals; astrologer in ornate attire; gold foil accents on the wheel.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram: segmented day-night watches labeled, arrows indicating ‘earlier stronger’; side notes on divācara/rātricara inversion; clean linework and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, terrace scene with astronomer and a circular time chart; background split into day and night halves; animals/birds depicted in the ‘wrong’ half; fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: rātricaras → rātri-caraḥ; divācaro → divā-caraḥ; verse is nominal with implied ‘(bhavati)’; vijñeyā is gerundive agreeing with pūrvā/sā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana muhūrta/kāla-nirṇaya passages on day/night divisions and bala; Agni Purana śakuna rules where time-of-occurrence modifies phala
FAQs
It teaches kāla-nirṇaya: earlier portions of a time-sequence are considered more potent, and it notes the functional classification of activity as “day-going” or “night-going” depending on whether it occurs in day or night—useful for muhurta/ritual scheduling.
By preserving applied time-science (Jyotiṣa-style practical rules) alongside theology and ritual, it shows how the Agni Purāṇa functions as a handbook for real-world decision-making—especially selecting stronger/auspicious temporal segments.
Performing rites and duties in the stronger (earlier) time-portions is implied to enhance efficacy and merit, aligning action with favorable temporal potency to support successful, purified outcomes.