Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 9
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
सम्मुखे ऽभ्येति विरुवन् यात्राघातकरो भवेत् वामः काकः स्मृतो धन्यो दक्षिणो ऽर्थविनाशकृत्
sammukhe 'bhyeti viruvan yātrāghātakaro bhavet vāmaḥ kākaḥ smṛto dhanyo dakṣiṇo 'rthavināśakṛt
കാക്ക മുന്നിൽ നിന്ന് കരഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ട് അടുത്തുവന്നാൽ അത് യാത്രയ്ക്ക് തടസ്സമോ ഹാനിയോ വരുത്തുന്ന നിമിത്തമാണ്. ഇടത്തുവശത്തെ കാക്ക ശുഭവും സമൃദ്ധിദായകവുമെന്നു സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; വലത്തുവശത്തെ കാക്ക ധനനാശകരമാണ്.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Apply directional and behavioral crow-omens to decide whether to proceed with travel and to anticipate prosperity or financial loss.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Directional Crow-Omens: Front-Crying, Left-Auspicious, Right-Loss","lookup_keywords":["crow","left right omen","journey obstruction","wealth loss","shakuna-vidya"],"quick_summary":"A crow approaching from the front while crying obstructs travel. A left-side crow is auspicious and prosperity-giving; a right-side crow indicates loss of wealth."}
Concept: Directionality (vāma/dakṣiṇa) and sound/approach-pattern refine omen interpretation beyond mere sighting.
Application: If front-crying or right-side occurs, postpone or perform pacificatory acts; if left-side occurs, proceed and leverage the auspicious timing.
Khanda Section: Shakuna-vidya (Omens and Auspicious Signs for Travel)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traveler on a road sees a crow flying toward him crying; another crow appears on his left with calm posture; a third on his right with ominous stance, with coins slipping to indicate wealth loss.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural triptych: (1) crow flying head-on with open beak, traveler recoils; (2) left-side crow serene, path bright; (3) right-side crow dark, scattered coins; bold outlines, flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with three framed vignettes around a central traveler; gold highlights on coins and jewelry; left vignette luminous, right vignette subdued; ornate borders and arch motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore instructional panel: traveler centered, left/right clearly marked; crow positions diagram-like; captions ‘vāma—dhanya’ and ‘dakṣiṇa—artha-vināśa’; precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature roadside scene with detailed landscape; crow approaching front with cry, attendants alarmed; separate margins show left auspicious and right inauspicious crow; fine brushwork and floral border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: 'bhyeti→abhyeti; sammukhe 'bhyeti→sammukhe+abhyeti; dakṣiṇo 'rthavināśakṛt→dakṣiṇaḥ+artha-vināśa-kṛt (visarga elision before vowel).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Directional omens (dik-śakuna) and travel rules (yātrā-lakṣaṇa)
FAQs
It teaches Śakuna/Nimitta-vidyā: interpreting a crow’s direction and behavior (approaching head-on while cawing; appearing on left vs right) as practical travel and prosperity omens.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied cultural sciences—here, omen-lore used for decision-making in travel and livelihood—showing its broad coverage of pragmatic disciplines alongside ritual and doctrine.
By heeding auspicious and inauspicious signs before action, one avoids harmful undertakings and aligns conduct with dharmic prudence, thereby safeguarding welfare (yātrā-siddhi) and wealth (artha).