Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 25
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
पृष्ठतो निन्दितफलस्तित्तिरिस्तु न शस्यते एणा वराहाः पृषता वामा भूत्वा तु दक्षिणाः
pṛṣṭhato ninditaphalastittiristu na śasyate eṇā varāhāḥ pṛṣatā vāmā bhūtvā tu dakṣiṇāḥ
തിത്തിരി (പാർട്രിഡ്ജ്)യുടെ ശബ്ദം/സൂചന പിന്നിൽ നിന്ന് കേട്ടാൽ അതിന്റെ ഫലം നിന്ദിതം (അമംഗളം) ആകുന്നു; അതിനാൽ ശുഭകരമല്ല. എന്നാൽ ഏണ (മാൻ), വരാഹ (കാട്ടുപന്നി), പൃഷത (പുള്ളിമാൻ) ഇടത് വശത്ത് കണ്ടാലും വലത് വശശകുനംപോലെ ശുഭഫലം നൽകും।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Refine travel-omen interpretation by direction of sound (behind vs. ahead) and by special rule where certain animals invert left/right auspiciousness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śakuna rules: tittiri from behind and left-right inversion for eṇa/varāha/pṛṣata","lookup_keywords":["tittiri","pṛṣṭhataḥ-śakuna","eṇa","varāha","pṛṣata","vāma-dakṣiṇa-viparyaya"],"quick_summary":"A partridge call from behind is inauspicious; conversely, deer/boar/spotted antelope seen on the left are to be treated as right-side (auspicious) indicators by a special inversion rule."}
Concept: Nimitta-reading includes both general rules (behind = censured) and apavāda (exception/inversion) for specific species.
Application: If a tittiri is heard from behind, avoid proceeding; if deer/boar/spotted antelope appear on the left, treat it as favorable rather than unfavorable.
Khanda Section: Shakuna-vidya (Omens and Animal/Bird Portents)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler on a path hears a partridge calling from behind (inauspicious), while on the left side of the road deer, a boar, and a spotted antelope appear—yet are marked as auspicious by inversion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, traveler facing forward, behind him a tittiri bird with sound-lines, left side shows deer/boar/spotted antelope in stylized forms with auspicious symbols, flat colors and strong outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold embellishment, narrative split: rear partridge in darker tones, left-side animals highlighted with gold auspicious motifs, ornate frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition: arrows indicating 'behind' and 'left', tittiri labeled inauspicious, left animals labeled auspicious (dakṣiṇa-phala), fine detailing and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, dynamic road scene with animals emerging from brush on the left, partridge behind on a stone, traveler turning slightly, detailed flora and subtle symbolic cues."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ninditaphalastittiristu = nindita-phalaḥ + tittiriḥ + tu (visarga sandhi); śasyate is used in sense ‘is to be praised/recommended’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 230 (species-wise śakuna rules; positional/directional qualifiers)
FAQs
It teaches Shakuna-vidya: interpreting bird calls and animal appearances by direction (behind/left/right) to judge whether an undertaking is auspicious.
Alongside theology and rites, it preserves practical divinatory rules (omens for timing and direction), showing the Agni Purana’s broad coverage of applied knowledge used in daily decisions.
Acting in harmony with auspicious signs is presented as aligning one’s actions with dharmic order, avoiding inauspicious beginnings that could lead to obstacles and unfavorable outcomes.