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
କିମ୍ବା ଶତ୍ରୁ ବିପଦରେ ପଡ଼ିଥାଇପାରେ—ଦୈବ ଆଦି ନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରଣାତୀତ କାରଣରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପୀଡ଼ିତ। (ଏହା) ଭୂକମ୍ପ ଯେ ଦିଗକୁ ଯାଏ ଏବଂ କେତୁ (ଧୂମକେତୁ) ଯେ ଦିଗକୁ ଦୂଷିତ କରେ, ସେହି ଦିଗରୁ ଜଣାଯାଏ।
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.