Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 1
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
मल्लब्धेषु नवपुस्तकेषु प्रायः समान एव तेषामेकतमस्यापि साहाय्येन शोधितुं न स शक्यते अभिधानादिष्वपि तत्रत्यशब्दो नोपलभ्यन्ते अतस्तत्र विरतिः अथैकत्रिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः शकुनानि पुष्कर उवाच विशन्ति येन मार्गेण वायसा बहवः पुरं तेन मार्गेण रुद्धस्य पुरस्य ग्रहणं भवेत्
mallabdheṣu navapustakeṣu prāyaḥ samāna eva teṣāmekatamasyāpi sāhāyyena śodhituṃ na sa śakyate abhidhānādiṣvapi tatratyaśabdo nopalabhyante atastatra viratiḥ athaikatriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ śakunāni puṣkara uvāca viśanti yena mārgeṇa vāyasā bahavaḥ puraṃ tena mārgeṇa ruddhasya purasya grahaṇaṃ bhavet
नवप्राप्तेषु पाण्डुलिपिषु पाठः प्रायः सम एव; तेषामेकस्यापि साहाय्येन सम्यक् संशोधनं न शक्यते। अभिधानादिष्वपि तत्रस्थः शब्दो नोपलभ्यते; अतस्तत्र विरम्यते। अथैकत्रिंशदधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः—शकुनानि। पुष्कर उवाच—येन मार्गेण बहवो वायसा नगरं विशन्ति, तेनैव मार्गेण रुद्धनगरस्य ग्रहणं भवेत्।
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Use battlefield/urban omens (crow flight/entry routes) to infer weak points and plan the direction of assault or infiltration during a siege.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kāka-mārga-nimitta for capturing a besieged city","lookup_keywords":["kaka","shakuna","siege","city capture","route"],"quick_summary":"If many crows repeatedly enter a city by a particular route, that route is indicated as the effective line for taking a blocked/besieged city—suggesting a practical breach, supply-path, or unguarded access."}
Concept: Nimitta-jñāna as actionable intelligence: nature’s patterns can be read for pragmatic decision-making.
Application: In governance/war, combine observation of signs with reconnaissance rather than relying on force alone.
Khanda Section: Shakuna-shastra (Omens and augury) / Rajadharma (statecraft and conquest)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fortified city under siege; scouts observe flocks of crows repeatedly entering through one specific gate/route while commanders mark the approach line on the ground map.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, fortified ancient Indian city with high walls and gate, many black crows flying in a clear directional stream into the city, commanders and scouts in traditional attire pointing to the route, flat vibrant colors, ornate borders, temple-mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on city gate and royal commander, crows in stylized flight forming a directional arc, siege camp with banners, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments, devotional-royal aesthetic","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, detailed instructional scene: scouts counting crows and drawing the route on a palm-leaf map, city wall cross-section, soft shading, delicate lines, calm analytical mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, panoramic siege camp and city, precise architecture, crows as a repeated motif entering one lane, officers consulting a map, fine brushwork, naturalistic birds, muted yet rich palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Resolved: teṣām+ekatamasya+api → teṣām ekatamasya api; abhidhānādiṣu+api → abhidhānādiṣu api; tatratyaśabdaḥ → tatratya-śabdaḥ; nopalabhyante → na upalabhyante; 'dhyāyaḥ from adhyāyaḥ with avagraha; numeral compound eka-triṃśad-adhika-dviśata-tamaḥ = 231st.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (Śakuna-nimitta section); Agni Purana rājadharma/fortification and conquest topics (adjacent chapters)
FAQs
It teaches śakuna-vidyā (augury): interpreting the movement of crows as actionable intelligence in siege operations—use the route they enter as a viable line of approach for capturing a blocked/defended fort-city.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves pragmatic knowledge—omens, reconnaissance cues, and siegecraft—showing how Purāṇic literature also functioned as a handbook for governance and military decision-making.
It frames worldly success (victory in conquest) as aligned with reading dharmically sanctioned signs in nature; acting with awareness of śakuna is presented as harmonizing human effort with perceived cosmic indications rather than relying on brute force alone.