Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 1
Chapter 243 — Strī-lakṣaṇa
Characteristics of a Woman
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे पुरुषलक्षणं नाम द्विचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ त्रिचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः स्त्रीलक्षणं समुद्र उवाच शस्ता स्त्री चारुसर्वाङ्गी मत्तमातङ्गगामिनी गुरूरुजघना या च मत्तपारावतेक्षणा
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe puruṣalakṣaṇaṃ nāma dvicatvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha tricatvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ strīlakṣaṇaṃ samudra uvāca śastā strī cārusarvāṅgī mattamātaṅgagāminī gurūrujaghanā yā ca mattapārāvatekṣaṇā
Assim, no Agni Mahāpurāṇa, encerra-se o capítulo ducentésimo quadragésimo segundo, intitulado “Características do Homem (Puruṣa-lakṣaṇa)”. Agora começa o capítulo ducentésimo quadragésimo terceiro, “Características da Mulher (Strī-lakṣaṇa)”. Disse Samudra: “É louvável a mulher cujos membros são graciosos em todas as partes, cuja marcha é como a de uma elefanta embriagada, cujas coxas e quadris são cheios e pesados, e cujos olhos são como os de uma pomba embriagada.”
Samudra (authority in sāmudrika/physiognomy), within the Agni Purāṇa narration framework
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Alamkara","practical_application":"Cataloging idealized feminine traits for sāmudrika assessment and poetic description; used in marriage selection norms and kāvya-style portrayal.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Strī-lakṣaṇa: cāru-sarvāṅgī, mattamātaṅga-gāminī, guru-ūru-jaghanā, mattapārāvata-īkṣaṇā","lookup_keywords":["strī-lakṣaṇa","mātaṅga-gati","guru-ūru-jaghanā","pārāvata-īkṣaṇa","samudra-uvāca"],"quick_summary":"The chapter transition introduces women’s physiognomic markers. A praised woman is described through graceful limbs, elephant-like gait, full thighs/hips, and dove-like eyes."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā
Concept: Lakṣaṇa as a conventional index of śobha (comeliness) and śubhatva (auspiciousness).
Application: Used as a descriptive template in kāvya and as a social heuristic in matchmaking within the text’s cultural frame.
Khanda Section: Samudra-śāstra / Sāmudrika-śāstra (Physiognomy: Puruṣa- & Strī-lakṣaṇa)
Primary Rasa: Śṛṅgāra
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A graceful woman with symmetrical limbs, heavy thighs and hips, walking with a gentle swaying gait like a female elephant; eyes soft and rounded like an intoxicated dove.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, elegant woman in traditional ornaments, stylized swaying gait, subtle elephant motif to indicate comparison, large expressive dove-like eyes, flat decorative background with floral borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, auspicious woman centered with rich silk, heavy jewelry, gold-leaf highlights, poised stance suggesting elephantine gait, small dove motif near the face to echo the eye-simile.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined facial features and eyes emphasized, gentle posture lines showing gait, instructional aesthetic with minimal background, soft pastel palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace terrace scene, woman walking with attendants, naturalistic rendering of eyes and textiles, discreet elephant and dove motifs in the margins, fine brushwork."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति (यण्-सन्धि/व्यञ्जनसन्धि); ‘तमो ’ध्यायः = तमः अध्यायः (अकार-लोप/अवग्रह). संख्यासमासाः दीर्घ-तत्पुरुषरूपेण।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 243 (Strī-lakṣaṇa chapter opening); Agni Purana 242 (Puruṣa-lakṣaṇa preceding)
FAQs
It imparts sāmudrika-śāstra (physiognomic assessment): identifying ‘commendable’ feminine traits through bodily marks—proportions, gait, and eyes—used for character/auspiciousness evaluation rather than ritual procedure.
By shifting from puruṣa-lakṣaṇa to strī-lakṣaṇa, it shows the Agni Purāṇa compiling diverse applied sciences (lakṣaṇa/physiognomy) alongside theology and ritual—typical of its encyclopedic organization of practical knowledge.
The verse frames bodily ‘marks’ as indicators of auspiciousness (śubha-lakṣaṇa), guiding socially sanctioned choices (e.g., marriage suitability) believed to support harmony and dharmic outcomes, though it does not prescribe a direct ritual merit (puṇya) here.