Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 15
Rudra-śānti (रुद्रशान्ति)
विष्ण्वंश इति ञ रुद्रांशको भवेद्वीर इन्द्रांशश्चेश्वरप्रियः नागांशो नागस्तब्धाक्षो यक्षांशो भूषणप्रियः
viṣṇvaṃśa iti ña rudrāṃśako bhavedvīra indrāṃśaśceśvarapriyaḥ nāgāṃśo nāgastabdhākṣo yakṣāṃśo bhūṣaṇapriyaḥ
विष्ण्वंश इति ‘ञ’ वर्णेन निर्दिश्यते। रुद्रांशको वीरो भवेत्, इन्द्रांशश्चेश्वरप्रियः। नागांशो नागस्तब्धाक्षः, यक्षांशो भूषणप्रियः॥
Lord Agni (teaching in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Physiognomy/character reading via ‘aṃśa’ (divine portion) typology: infer temperament and preferences (heroism, devotion, ornament-love, steady gaze) and use it for social/ritual role assignment or narrative characterization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Manuṣya-lakṣaṇa by Divine Aṃśa (Viṣṇu, Rudra, Indra, Nāga, Yakṣa)","lookup_keywords":["viṣṇv-aṃśa","rudrāṃśa-vīra","indrāṃśa","nāgāṃśa-stabdhākṣa","yakṣāṃśa-bhūṣaṇa-priya"],"quick_summary":"Human traits are mapped to divine ‘portions’: Viṣṇu-linked persons are marked by a specific syllabic sign (ña) in this system; Rudra-portion yields valor, Indra-portion yields īśvara-priyatā/bhakti, Nāga-portion shows an unblinking steady gaze, and Yakṣa-portion shows fondness for ornaments."}
Concept: Guṇa/pravṛtti inferred through aṃśa-bheda: aligning one’s duties and associations with innate disposition understood as divine-derived tendencies.
Application: Use as a cautionary, non-deterministic guide: assign responsibilities (leadership, worship service, guarding, treasury/ornaments) in line with observed traits, while cultivating dharmic refinement beyond mere typology.
Khanda Section: Manushya-lakshana & Aṃśa-bheda (Physiognomy/characterology by divine ‘portion’)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lineup of five human figures each subtly bearing the aura/emblems of their aṃśa-source: Viṣṇu-marked with a ‘ña’ sign, Rudra-marked warrior stance, Indra-marked devotee posture, Nāga-marked person with steady unblinking eyes, Yakṣa-marked richly ornamented figure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, five-panel frieze of archetypal persons with deity-colored halos: Viṣṇu blue aura with ‘ña’ glyph, Rudra ash-grey heroic figure, Indra golden devotee, Nāga greenish gaze-focused figure, Yakṣa jeweled figure; bold outlines and flat temple palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate five-figure composition with gold-leaf jewelry especially on Yakṣa-aṃśa figure, halos and emblematic motifs (conch, trident, vajra, serpent hood), rich saturated colors, icon-like symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional character-sheet layout: each figure labeled with aṃśa and key lakṣaṇa (vīra, īśvara-priya, stabdhākṣa, bhūṣaṇa-priya), fine linework and gentle shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly album page of five portraits with marginal notes in calligraphy describing traits; Yakṣa-aṃśa in luxurious attire, Rudrāṃśa in martial dress, Nāgāṃśa with intense steady eyes; delicate borders and pastel palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्ण्वंशः = विष्णु + अंशः; भवेद्वीर = भवेत् + वीरः; इन्द्रांशश्चेश्वरप्रियः = इन्द्रांशः + च + ईश्वरप्रियः; नागांशो = नागांशः (ओ-आदेशः); यक्षांशो = यक्षांशः (ओ-आदेशः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 324 (aṃśa-bheda and lakṣaṇa materials)
FAQs
It imparts a diagnostic ‘aṃśa-lakṣaṇa’ framework—reading temperament and outward markers (heroism, devotion, gaze, love of ornaments) as indicators of a person’s dominant divine ‘portion’ in Puranic anthropology.
Beyond ritual and theology, it catalogs human typologies and behavioral markers, showing the Agni Purana’s broad scope: a compendium that includes character-science, signs, and classificatory knowledge alongside dharma and worship.
It frames virtues and tendencies (valor, devotion, steadiness, attachment to adornment) as spiritually meaningful dispositions; recognizing them is meant to guide self-cultivation—strengthening sattvic devotion and moderating binding attachments.