Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 26
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
भवन्त्यर्थकरा नित्यं विपरीता विगर्हिताः वृषाश्वजम्बुकव्याघ्राः सिंहमार्जारगर्दभाः
bhavantyarthakarā nityaṃ viparītā vigarhitāḥ vṛṣāśvajambukavyāghrāḥ siṃhamārjāragardabhāḥ
ਇਹ ਲੱਛਣ ਸਦਾ ਧਨ/ਲਾਭ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ; ਪਰ ਜੇ ਉਲਟ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਿੱਸਣ ਤਾਂ ਨਿੰਦਿਤ (ਅਮੰਗਲ) ਮੰਨੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ—ਬਲਦ, ਘੋੜਾ, ਗਿੱਦੜ, ਬਾਘ, ਸਿੰਘ, ਬਿੱਲੀ ਅਤੇ ਗਧਾ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Dream interpretation: identify which animals in dreams indicate gain, and recognize that reversed/contrary presentation flips the result to inauspicious.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Svapna-phala: gain-yielding animal dreams and reversal rule","lookup_keywords":["svapna-phala","arthakara","viparīta","vṛṣa-aśva","jambuka-vyāghra-siṃha"],"quick_summary":"Certain animal dreams are said to bring gain; if the dream-sign appears in a reversed/contrary manner, the result is censured and unfavorable."}
Concept: Svapna as nimitta: symbolic cognition where phala depends on the sign and its viparyaya (reversal/contrary mode).
Application: On seeing these animals in dreams, expect benefit; if the dream is distorted/reversed (viparīta), treat it as a warning and act cautiously in finance/travel.
Khanda Section: Svapna-Phala (Dream Omens and Portents)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dreamer sleeps while above appears a dream-vision: bull, horse, jackal, tiger, lion, cat, donkey; a second vignette shows the same signs in reversed/contrary form marked inauspicious.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sleeping figure at bottom, dream-cloud band above with stylized animals, a mirrored/reversed panel indicating viparīta, bold outlines and flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, sleeping figure with gold ornamented bed, dream animals in a gilded cloud medallion, contrasting darker medallion for reversed omens, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional split-screen: 'arthakara' animals vs 'viparīta' depiction, fine linework, soft gradients, clear icon labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with sleeper, translucent dream-cloud showing animals in naturalistic detail, second cloud with inverted/chaotic arrangement to suggest reversal, refined textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhavantyarthakarā = bhavanti + artha-karāḥ; vṛṣāśvajambukavyāghrāḥ is a dvandva compound; siṃhamārjāragardabhāḥ is a dvandva compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 230 (Svapna-phala subsection)
FAQs
It gives svapna-nimitta (dream-omen) rules: seeing certain animals is gain-giving, while seeing them in an inverted/contrary manner is treated as inauspicious.
Alongside theology and rites, the Agni Purana catalogs practical omenology—classifying dream symbols and their results—showing its broad, handbook-like scope.
It frames dreams as karmic indicators: auspicious visions suggest favorable fruition (artha/gain), while distorted or reversed signs warn of adverse outcomes and the need for caution and remedial conduct.