Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 24
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
भूमिं पादैर् विनिघ्नन्त्यो दीना भीता भयावहाः आर्द्राङ्ग्यो हृष्टरोमाश् च शृगलग्नमृदः शुभाः
bhūmiṃ pādair vinighnantyo dīnā bhītā bhayāvahāḥ ārdrāṅgyo hṛṣṭaromāś ca śṛgalagnamṛdaḥ śubhāḥ
(Mulheres) que golpeiam o chão com os pés—abatidas, amedrontadas e aterradoras—com membros úmidos e pelos eriçados; e aquelas cujos corpos estão besuntados de lama pegajosa, como a lama que se prende ao chacal: tudo isso são presságios auspiciosos.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa frame narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Reading human behavioral/physiological signs (fear, bristling hair, dampness, mud-smearing) as immediate auspicious omens in prognostics—useful for decision-making before travel, audience, or enterprise.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Strī-ceṣṭā-nimitta (Omens from women’s movements/appearance)","lookup_keywords":["pāda-vinighna","dīnā-bhītā","ārdrāṅgī","hṛṣṭa-roma","śṛgala-lagna-mṛd"],"quick_summary":"Certain startling behaviors/appearances—women striking the ground with their feet, damp-limbed with horripilation, or smeared with mud associated with jackals—are classified here as auspicious signs, despite their fearful look."}
Concept: Nimitta-śāstra often inverts surface emotion: fearful appearances can function as śubha-lakṣaṇa within a codified omen-system.
Application: Do not abort an undertaking solely due to frightening appearances; consult the omen-code and proceed when classified as śubha.
Khanda Section: Nimitta-Śāstra (Omens and Prognostics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A roadside/threshold scene: a frightened woman stamps the earth; her limbs appear damp, hair standing on end; another figure has mud clinging as if from a jackal’s haunt; observers interpret it as auspicious before a journey.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dynamic stamping pose, stylized horripilation, damp sheen indicated by color gradients, earthy mud textures, onlookers in traditional dress gesturing ‘śubha’, strong outlines and narrative clarity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold accents on jewelry and borders, central stamping figure, attendants/soothsayer indicating auspiciousness, decorative flora, dramatic yet formal composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene with clear gestures: omen-interpreter explaining signs to travelers, soft palette, fine lines emphasizing hair-bristle and damp limbs","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed street/roadside architecture, expressive faces, stamping motion captured, mud textures finely rendered, a learned interpreter pointing to classify the omen as auspicious"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पादैः + विनिघ्नन्त्यः → पादैर् विनिघ्नन्त्यः (विसर्ग/रेफ-सन्धि); भय + आवहाः → भयावहाः; आर्द्र + अङ्ग्यः → आर्द्राङ्ग्यः; हृष्ट + रोमाः + च → हृष्टरोमाश्च; शृगल-अग्न-मृदः: पाठ/विग्रह अनिश्चित (संभवतः शृगालग्निमृदः इत्यादि).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (nimitta lists)
FAQs
It conveys nimitta-vidyā (prognostic knowledge): specific bodily and behavioral signs—trampling the earth, fearfulness, damp limbs, horripilation, and mud adhering like jackal-mud—are classified here as auspicious indicators.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs applied disciplines such as omen-reading (nimitta/śakuna) used for practical decisions; this verse is one data-point in that systematic classification of signs and outcomes.
By treating omens as meaningful indicators, it supports dharmic action-timing—choosing moments deemed favorable—thereby aiming to align human undertakings with an auspicious order and reduce adverse results.