Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 17
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
वागुर्युलूकशरभक्रौञ्चाः शशककच्छपाः लोमासिकाः पिङ्गलिकाः कथिता रात्रिगोचराः
vāguryulūkaśarabhakrauñcāḥ śaśakakacchapāḥ lomāsikāḥ piṅgalikāḥ kathitā rātrigocarāḥ
ਵਾਗੁਰੀ, ਉੱਲੂ, ਸ਼ਰਭ, ਕ੍ਰੌਂਚ-ਪੰਛੀ, ਖਰਗੋਸ਼ ਅਤੇ ਕੱਛੂਏ—ਅਤੇ ਲੋਮਾਸਿਕਾ ਤੇ ਪਿੰਗਲਿਕਾ ਨਾਮ ਦੇ ਜੀਵ—ਇਹ ਸਭ ਰਾਤ ਨੂੰ ਭਟਕਣ ਵਾਲੇ (ਰਾਤ੍ਰਿਗੋਚਰ) ਕਹੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Reading śakuna (omens) by noting which creatures are active at night; used for timing travel, rituals, and interpreting nocturnal sounds/sightings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rātrigocara—Nocturnal creatures (śakuna list)","lookup_keywords":["rātrigocara","ulūka","krauñca","lomāsikā","piṅgalikā"],"quick_summary":"Identifies a set of beings classed as night-wanderers; their appearance or calls are treated as omen-signs in śakuna-vidyā."}
Concept: Nature-observation as a valid pramāṇa for applied omen-science (śakuna).
Application: Maintain a field-notebook of night sightings/sounds and correlate with outcomes to refine omen-interpretation.
Khanda Section: Shakuna-vidya (Omens & Nocturnal Creatures) / Puranic Natural History
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A moonlit forest-edge with an owl perched, krauñcha birds in the distance, a rabbit and tortoise on the ground, and shadowy nocturnal creatures labeled Lomāsikā and Piṅgalikā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep indigo night sky, stylized owl (ulūka) on a branch, krauñcha birds flying, rabbit and tortoise below, ornamental foliage, flat yet vibrant colors, traditional linework.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, nocturnal omen tableau with gold-leaf moon halo, richly patterned trees, owl as central motif, krauñcha birds, rabbit and tortoise, embossed gold highlights on feathers and ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional natural-history plate, clean outlines, soft shading, labeled nocturnal animals (ulūka, krauñcha, śaśaka, kacchapa, lomāsikā, piṅgalikā), calm moonlit palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed moonlit landscape, naturalistic owl and birds, rabbit and tortoise rendered with fine brushwork, delicate plants, subtle night gradients, marginal notes like a bestiary."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Malkauns","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No mandatory sandhi splits beyond listing; rātrigocarāḥ analyzed as rātri+gocara (Tatpurusha).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 230 (Śakuna-vidyā section)
FAQs
It contributes to shakuna-vidyā/omenology by classifying certain beings as rātrigocara (nocturnal), a prerequisite for interpreting their appearances and calls in time-based omen reading.
Beyond theology, it catalogs categories of animals and birds used in practical knowledge-systems (omens, observation of nature), showing the Purana’s compendious, reference-style approach.
By distinguishing nocturnal movers, the practitioner avoids misreading signs and aligns actions with proper timing (kāla), supporting dharmic decision-making and reducing error-driven negative outcomes.