Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 30
Utpāta-śānti
Pacification of Portents
अनिमित्तन्तु पतनं दृढानां राजमृत्यवे रजसा वाथ धूमेन दिशो यत्र समाकुलाः
animittantu patanaṃ dṛḍhānāṃ rājamṛtyave rajasā vātha dhūmena diśo yatra samākulāḥ
ແຕ່ເມື່ອແມ່ນແຕ່ຜູ້ໝັ້ນຄົງກໍຕົກລົງໂດຍບໍ່ມີເຫດອັນປາກົດ ແລະທິດທັງຫຼາຍສັບສົນເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍຝຸ່ນ ຫຼືຄວັນ ນັ້ນແມ່ນນິມິດແຫ່ງການສິ້ນພະຊົນຂອງກະສັດ।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Royal advisors and administrators use these omens as early-warning signals to intensify security, succession planning, and śānti rites when systemic instability appears.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Rājā-mṛtyu-nimitta: causeless collapse and dust/smoke in quarters","lookup_keywords":["rājā-mṛtyu","nimitta","rajas","dhūma","diśa-samākula"],"quick_summary":"If stable persons fall without evident cause and the directions appear confused with dust or smoke, it is read as a grave political portent—especially indicating danger to the king."}
Concept: Rājadharma requires vigilance to collective signs (nimitta) and timely protective action for the realm.
Application: Treat widespread anomalies as triggers for counsel, restraint, charity, and pacificatory rites rather than denial.
Khanda Section: Rājadharma & Arishta-lakṣaṇa (Omens of kings, polity, and portents)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal court where sturdy guards or pillars inexplicably collapse; outside, the horizon is choked with dust and smoke, and the four quarters look disoriented, signaling danger to the king.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, palace courtyard with anxious ministers, a fallen steadfast guard, swirling rajas and dhūma filling the four directions, bold flat colors, ornate borders, ominous atmosphere","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, king seated with worried purohita and ministers, gold-leaf highlights on throne and ornaments, background showing smoky/dusty quarters as a portent, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, detailed court scene with explanatory gestures of an astrologer/priest pointing to dust and smoke in the directions, delicate linework, muted palette, instructional mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, finely detailed durbar with attendants fallen or stumbling, atmospheric dust and smoke veiling the skyline, expressive faces, architectural precision, tense narrative"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ominous","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अनिमित्तन्तु = अनिमित्तम् + तु; वाथ = वा + अथ; अग्निर्यत्र (in next verse) similar visarga sandhi. Here no further mandatory splits.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 262 (Utpāta-lakṣaṇa context); Agni Purana 262.33 (śānti by pūjā/japa/homa); Agni Purana 263.1 (utpāta-mardana rites)
FAQs
It teaches arishta-lakṣaṇa—diagnostic portents for statecraft: causeless collapse of the strong and directional turmoil from dust/smoke are read as indicators of impending royal death.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical governance knowledge by cataloging observable public signs (environmental and social) used to assess political stability and imminent catastrophe.
Such omens are framed as outward manifestations of declining royal fortune (rāja-bhāgya) and collective karma; recognizing them prompts timely dharmic response—atonement, charity, and protective rites—to mitigate harm.