Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 14
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
स्कन्धावारापसव्यस्थाः श्वानो विप्रविनाशकाः इन्द्रस्थाने नरेन्द्रस्य पुरेशस्य तु गोपुरे
skandhāvārāpasavyasthāḥ śvāno vipravināśakāḥ indrasthāne narendrasya pureśasya tu gopure
स्कन्धावारे अपसव्यस्थाः श्वानो विप्रविनाशकाः इति कथ्यन्ते—नरेन्द्रस्य इन्द्रस्थाने, पुरेशस्य तु गोपुरे (एतन्निमित्तं दृश्यते)।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Reading security-related omens in military camps and city gates; adjusting guard placement and performing protective measures when inauspicious signs appear.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Camp-and-gate omen: dogs on the apasavya side at Indra-position and gopura","lookup_keywords":["skandhavara","apasavya","shvana","indra-sthana","gopura"],"quick_summary":"Dogs positioned on the inauspicious (apasavya/left-contrary) side of an army camp are read as a harmful omen—specifically ‘brahmin-destroying’—noted at the king’s Indra-quarter position and at the city gate-tower; it signals disorder and calls for corrective protection."}
Concept: Rājadharma includes maintaining auspicious order in space; neglect of signs at strategic nodes (camp, gate) foretells social harm.
Application: Audit camp/gate perimeters, correct apasavya anomalies, reinforce protection of brahmins and civic order, and perform śānti when repeated ominous signs occur.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Pura-raksha (Governance, fort/city security, omens and protective arrangements)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fortified city gate with a tall gopura; an army camp nearby. Dogs sit or bark on the left/contrary side of the camp alignment; officials and priests note the omen at the king’s Indra-quarter station.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized gopura and camp tents, directional markers, dogs on apasavya side, king with attendants, priest indicating Indra-sthāna, bold colors and rhythmic composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate gopura with gold highlights, king seated near a marked ‘Indra’ post, dogs on the left side, attendants in rich attire, embossed architectural detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical layout feel: camp plan with left/right orientation, gopura elevation, dogs placed on apasavya side, officials discussing corrective measures, clean lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed fort gate and encampment, dogs clustered on one side, court officers and a pandit consulting, fine architectural perspective and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्कन्धावारापसव्यस्थाः = स्कन्ध + आवार + अपसव्य + स्थाः; विप्रविनाशकाः = विप्र + विनाशकाः; इन्द्रस्थाने = इन्द्र + स्थाने; पुरेशस्य = पुर + ईशस्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (omens in camps, gates, directions); Agni Purana sections on rājadharma/pura-rakṣā (city protection themes)
FAQs
It gives an omen-based diagnostic rule for royal/civic protection: the inauspicious placement of dogs (apasavya) in an army-camp or at key directional stations (Indra-sthāna, gopura) is treated as a harmful sign, prompting corrective security/ritual measures.
Beyond theology, it records practical statecraft—how to read portents in military and urban spaces (camp layout, gate-towers, directional stations), blending rajadharma, vastu-directionality, and protective administration.
Because brāhmaṇas represent ritual order and auspiciousness, an omen described as “vipra-vināśaka” signals a rupture of dharma; recognizing and remedying such signs is framed as protecting merit (puṇya) and restoring auspicious order in the realm.