Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 32

Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens

Devanagari script

सीमान्तमभ्यन्तरिता विज्ञेया निष्फला द्विज एकद्वित्रिचतुर्भिस्तु शिवा धन्या रुतैर् भवेत्

Transliteration

sīmāntamabhyantaritā vijñeyā niṣphalā dvija ekadvitricaturbhistu śivā dhanyā rutair bhavet

Translation

О дважды-рождённый, крик птицы, слышимый изнутри границы дома/двора, следует понимать как «бесплодный», то есть не дающий результата. Но если он слышится один, два, три или четыре раза, то этими криками он становится благим знамением и приносящим удачу.

Word by Word

• sīmāntam: the boundary/parting (limit)
• sīmāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sīmānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhyantaritā: entered/penetrated within
• abhyantaritā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-antar-√i (धातु) + kta (क्त) → abhyantarita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त) used adjectivally

• vijñeyā: should be understood/known
• vijñeyā: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधानविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु) + ya (य) → vijñeya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; Gerundive/obligatory participle (तव्य/यत्-अर्थे य) meaning ‘to be known’

• niṣphalā: fruitless
• niṣphalā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• dvija: O twice-born (Brahmin)
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• eka-dvi-tri-caturbhiḥ: with one, two, three, or four (cries/sounds)
• eka-dvi-tri-caturbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + tri (प्रातिपदिक) + catur (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) as numeral-collective, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); dvandva of numerals

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), adversative/emphatic

• śivā: auspicious
• śivā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• dhanyā: fortunate/blessed
• dhanyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• rutaiḥ: by cries/sounds
• rutaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhavet: would be/becomes
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Lord Agni

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: Tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: sīmāntamabhyantaritā → sīmāntam + abhyantaritā; caturbhistu → caturbhiḥ + tu; rutair bhavet → rutaiḥ + bhavet (visarga/sandhi).

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It gives a śakuna (omen) rule: a cry heard from inside the property boundary is treated as ineffective, while hearing a cry counted as 1–4 calls is taken as auspicious and prosperity-indicating.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical decision-tools like omenology (śakuna-śāstra), detailing how everyday signs (direction/location and count of calls) are interpreted for auspicious timing and outcomes.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

It frames auspiciousness (śiva, dhanya) as discernible through ordered signs, encouraging mindful action—undertaking rites or tasks when omens are favorable and avoiding anxiety over signs deemed niṣphala (non-result-bearing).