Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 13
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
अमेध्यपूर्णवदनः काकः सर्वार्थसाधकः ज्ञेयाः पतत्रिणो ऽन्ये ऽपि काकवद् भृगुनन्दन
amedhyapūrṇavadanaḥ kākaḥ sarvārthasādhakaḥ jñeyāḥ patatriṇo 'nye 'pi kākavad bhṛgunandana
ਅਸ਼ੁੱਧ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਨਾਲ ਚੋਂਚ ਭਰਿਆ ਕਾਂ ‘ਸਰਵਾਰਥ-ਸਾਧਕ’—ਅਰਥਾਤ ਸਭ ਕੰਮ ਸਿਧ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਸ਼ੁਭ ਨਿਮਿੱਤ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ। ਹੇ ਭ੍ਰਿਗੁਨੰਦਨ, ਹੋਰ ਪੰਛੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਕਾਂ ਵਾਂਗ ਹੀ ਨਿਮਿੱਤ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਮਝਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (in discourse to a Bhṛgu-line sage, commonly identified with Vasiṣṭha/Bhṛgu-nandana addressee in this section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Using bird-augury (especially crow behavior) to predict success in undertakings; extending the interpretive rule to other birds by analogy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Crow with impure-filled beak as sarvārtha-sādhaka (success-omen)","lookup_keywords":["kaka","amedhya","sarvartha-sadhaka","patatrin","shakuna-vidya"],"quick_summary":"A crow seen with its beak full of impure matter is defined here as an omen of accomplishing aims; similar interpretive logic is applied to other birds as well."}
Concept: Lakṣaṇa/śakuna knowledge: inference from observable signs; generalization from a paradigmatic case (crow) to a class (other birds).
Application: When a key omen is established, apply it carefully by similarity (ākṛti/ācāra) to related signs, while noting context (direction, time, proximity).
Khanda Section: Shakuna-vidya (Omens and augury through animals and birds)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A crow stands prominently with its beak filled (symbolically ‘impure’), while other birds gather around, and a learned observer explains that this indicates success.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central black crow with highlighted beak contents (symbolic), surrounding birds in stylized forms, sage-like figure teaching, bold flat colors and temple-mural ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, crow rendered with gold outline accents, other birds in a semicircle, teacher figure with palm-leaf manuscript, rich decorative border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic classroom feel: guru pointing to crow and then to other birds, subtle shading, clear iconographic labeling of ‘sarvārtha-sādhaka’","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic crow with beak full, garden setting with varied birds, scholar addressing a patron, fine detailing of feathers and foliage"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अमेध्यपूर्णवदनः = अमेध्य + पूर्ण + वदनः; सर्वार्थसाधकः = सर्व + अर्थ + साधकः; पतत्रिणोऽन्येऽपि = पतत्रिणः + अन्ये + अपि; काकवद् = काकवत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (crow-omens; bird-augury rules)
FAQs
It teaches shakuna-vidyā: interpreting the crow (and by extension other birds) as an omen indicating the successful accomplishment of one’s intended objective (sarvārtha-siddhi).
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical omen-science used in travel, decision-making, and royal or household planning—showing its wide-ranging, applied knowledge tradition.
Reading omens is framed as aligning human action with perceived cosmic संकेत (signs); treating the crow here as auspicious encourages confident, timely action rather than fear, supporting dharmic resolve and successful undertaking.