Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 37
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
हृष्टा नराश्चानुलोमा ग्रहा वै जयलक्षणं काकैर् योधाभिभवनं क्रव्याद्भिर्मण्डलक्षयः
hṛṣṭā narāścānulomā grahā vai jayalakṣaṇaṃ kākair yodhābhibhavanaṃ kravyādbhirmaṇḍalakṣayaḥ
हृष्टा नराः तथा ग्रहाणामनुलोमगतिर्जयलक्षणं; काकैः योधाभिभवने क्रव्याद्भिर्मण्डलक्षयः सूच्यते।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Using human morale, planetary motion, and battlefield fauna-omens to forecast victory/defeat and to take preventive statecraft measures when ruin-signs appear.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Jaya–Parajaya Lakṣaṇa: Cheerful Men, Anuloma Grahas vs. Crows and Carrion-Eaters","lookup_keywords":["jaya-lakshana","anuloma-graha","hrshta-nara","kaka-shakuna","mandala-kshaya"],"quick_summary":"Victory is indicated by cheerful troops/people and favorable planetary motion; defeat and loss of dominion are indicated when crows and carrion-eaters dominate the battlefield and overwhelm warriors."}
Concept: Rājadharma requires attention to both daiva (cosmic factors) and puruṣakāra (human factors like morale) to protect subjects and realm.
Application: Cultivate troop confidence and public order; if ominous signs of mass death appear, choose diplomacy, delay, or ritual appeasement rather than reckless engagement.
Khanda Section: Jyotiṣa & Śakuna-śāstra (Omens and portents for victory/defeat)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two contrasted scenes: on one side, cheerful soldiers under clear auspicious sky; on the other, a grim battlefield where crows and vultures swarm over fallen or threatened warriors, symbolizing impending ruin of the realm.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural diptych: left—bright-faced warriors and auspicious planetary wheel above; right—dark-toned battlefield with crows and carrion birds circling, stylized expressive eyes, strong ornamental framing","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold accents: victorious side with shining standards and smiling troops; ominous side with black birds in gold-outlined sky, fallen shields, king’s worried face, heavy decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic split composition labeled ‘jaya’ and ‘kṣaya’: planets shown in orderly direct motion above the jaya panel; dense flock of crows/vultures above the kṣaya panel, fine detailing and calm palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature battlefield: realistic birds (crows, vultures) descending, soldiers reacting, astrologer/soothsayer near the commander, detailed armor and terrain, subtle sky with planetary motifs"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: narāścānulomā = narāḥ + ca + anulomāḥ; jayalakṣaṇaṃ = jaya-lakṣaṇam; kākair = kākaiḥ (visarga-lopa before y-); yodhābhibhavanaṃ = yodha-abhibhavanam; kravyādbhirmaṇḍalakṣayaḥ = kravyādbhiḥ + maṇḍala-kṣayaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (victory/defeat omens); Agni Purana 232 (yātrā rules under rājadharma)
FAQs
It gives śakuna-jñāna (omenology) for campaigns: favorable planetary motion and upbeat troops predict victory, while ominous bird-signs (crows/carrion-eaters dominating) foretell defeat and political collapse.
Alongside ritual and theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical statecraft and military forecasting—integrating jyotiṣa (planetary indications) with battlefield śakunas (animal/bird omens) to guide royal decision-making.
It frames victory and ruin as reflected in cosmic and natural order: when harmony (anuloma grahas, confident people) prevails there is success, while disorder and death-signs (carrion-eaters) signal the waning of dharma and the kingdom’s merit.