Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4
युद्धयात्रा (Yuddhayātrā) — The War-Expedition
विद्विष्टनाशकं सैन्यं सम्भूतान्तःप्रकोपनं शरीरस्फुरणे धन्ये तथा सुस्वप्रदर्शने
vidviṣṭanāśakaṃ sainyaṃ sambhūtāntaḥprakopanaṃ śarīrasphuraṇe dhanye tathā susvapradarśane
विद्विष्टनाशकं सैन्यं सम्भूतान्तःप्रकोपनम्; शरीरस्फुरणे धन्ये तथा सुस्वप्रदर्शने।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s encyclopedic teachings to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Interpreting auspicious bodily twitching and good dreams as favorable omens for military success and enemy destruction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śakuna Indicators—Body Twitching and Auspicious Dreams","lookup_keywords":["śakuna","śarīra-sphuraṇa","svapna","auspicious signs","military omen"],"quick_summary":"Auspicious bodily twitching and favorable dreams are treated as signs of arising power and the prospect of destroying the hostile enemy."}
Concept: Nimitta can be internal (bodily) and mental (dreams), not only external; they are integrated into practical decision-making.
Application: Record and compare repeated bodily/dream signs with external intelligence; treat them as supportive, not sole, grounds for action.
Khanda Section: Jyotisha & Shakuna-vidya (Omens, dreams, and bodily portents)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A commander experiences auspicious body-twitching and recounts a good dream to an omen-reader; behind them soldiers prepare, sensing favorable momentum.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: close-up of commander with expressive eyes, omen-reader with palm-leaf; symbolic dream cloud showing victory; flat colors and decorative borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: auspicious dream vignette above—victory banner, lotus, conch—gold accents; below, commander and priest interpret signs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional split-scene—left shows śarīra-sphuraṇa (hand/eye twitch) with labels; right shows auspicious dream symbols; calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate interior with bedchamber dream scene; next panel shows consultation with scholar; fine detailing of textiles and expressions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Compounds treated as lexical units: vidviṣṭa-nāśakam; sambhūta-antaḥ-prakopanam; śarīra-sphuraṇe; su-svapna-darśane.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 227 (dreams/omens continuation)
FAQs
Śakuna/Nimitta-vidyā: reading outcomes (especially conflict-related) from signs such as bodily twitching (śarīra-sphuraṇa) and the appearance of auspicious dreams (su-svapna).
It preserves practical prognostics alongside other disciplines—linking warfare outcomes (sainya, enemy-destruction) with jyotiṣa-style omen reading (nimitta, svapna), showing the text’s broad, applied scope.
Auspicious signs (dhanya-sphuraṇa, su-svapna) are treated as indicators of favorable karmic timing and divine assent, encouraging action aligned with dharma and prudent restraint when signs are adverse.