Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 17
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
वागुर्युलूकशरभक्रौञ्चाः शशककच्छपाः लोमासिकाः पिङ्गलिकाः कथिता रात्रिगोचराः
vāguryulūkaśarabhakrauñcāḥ śaśakakacchapāḥ lomāsikāḥ piṅgalikāḥ kathitā rātrigocarāḥ
வாகுரீ, ஆந்தைகள், சரபங்கள், கௌஞ்சப் பறவைகள், முயல்கள், ஆமைகள்—மேலும் லோமாசிகா, பிங்கலிகா எனப்படும் உயிர்கள்—இவை அனைத்தும் இரவில் உலாவும் ‘ராத்திரிகோசர’ எனக் கூறப்படுகின்றன।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Reading śakuna (omens) by noting which creatures are active at night; used for timing travel, rituals, and interpreting nocturnal sounds/sightings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rātrigocara—Nocturnal creatures (śakuna list)","lookup_keywords":["rātrigocara","ulūka","krauñca","lomāsikā","piṅgalikā"],"quick_summary":"Identifies a set of beings classed as night-wanderers; their appearance or calls are treated as omen-signs in śakuna-vidyā."}
Concept: Nature-observation as a valid pramāṇa for applied omen-science (śakuna).
Application: Maintain a field-notebook of night sightings/sounds and correlate with outcomes to refine omen-interpretation.
Khanda Section: Shakuna-vidya (Omens & Nocturnal Creatures) / Puranic Natural History
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A moonlit forest-edge with an owl perched, krauñcha birds in the distance, a rabbit and tortoise on the ground, and shadowy nocturnal creatures labeled Lomāsikā and Piṅgalikā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep indigo night sky, stylized owl (ulūka) on a branch, krauñcha birds flying, rabbit and tortoise below, ornamental foliage, flat yet vibrant colors, traditional linework.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, nocturnal omen tableau with gold-leaf moon halo, richly patterned trees, owl as central motif, krauñcha birds, rabbit and tortoise, embossed gold highlights on feathers and ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional natural-history plate, clean outlines, soft shading, labeled nocturnal animals (ulūka, krauñcha, śaśaka, kacchapa, lomāsikā, piṅgalikā), calm moonlit palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed moonlit landscape, naturalistic owl and birds, rabbit and tortoise rendered with fine brushwork, delicate plants, subtle night gradients, marginal notes like a bestiary."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Raga Malkauns","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: No mandatory sandhi splits beyond listing; rātrigocarāḥ analyzed as rātri+gocara (Tatpurusha).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 230 (Śakuna-vidyā section)
FAQs
It contributes to shakuna-vidyā/omenology by classifying certain beings as rātrigocara (nocturnal), a prerequisite for interpreting their appearances and calls in time-based omen reading.
Beyond theology, it catalogs categories of animals and birds used in practical knowledge-systems (omens, observation of nature), showing the Purana’s compendious, reference-style approach.
By distinguishing nocturnal movers, the practitioner avoids misreading signs and aligns actions with proper timing (kāla), supporting dharmic decision-making and reducing error-driven negative outcomes.