Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 15
Chapter 231 — शकुनानि (Śakunāni) | Omens in Governance, Travel, and War
अन्तर्गृहे गृहेशस्य मरणाय भवेद्भषन् यस्य जिघ्रति वामाङ्गं तस्य स्यादर्थसिद्धये
antargṛhe gṛheśasya maraṇāya bhavedbhaṣan yasya jighrati vāmāṅgaṃ tasya syādarthasiddhaye
หากสุนัขเห่าอยู่ภายในเรือน ย่อมเป็นนิมิตแห่งความตายแก่เจ้าของเรือน แต่ถ้ามันดมด้านซ้ายของผู้ใด ผู้นั้นกล่าวกันว่าจะสำเร็จในทรัพย์/ได้ผลตามประสงค์।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Household prognostics: interpreting dog behavior (barking location; sniffing left side) to anticipate danger or success; deciding on protective rites or proceeding with plans.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"House-omen: dog barking inside; dog sniffing the left side","lookup_keywords":["shvana-bhashana","antar-griha","griheshvara-marana","vama-anga","artha-siddhi"],"quick_summary":"A dog barking within the inner house is taken as a death-omen for the householder; conversely, a dog sniffing a person’s left side is read as a sign of attaining wealth/success—same animal, different action and locus, different result."}
Concept: Nimitta is situational: locus (inside house) and contact-direction (left side) alter prognostic meaning; prudent action aligns with observed signs.
Application: If the inauspicious sign occurs, pause major actions, increase vigilance, and perform śānti/house-protection; if the favorable sign occurs, proceed with planned acquisition/undertaking.
Khanda Section: Śakuna-śāstra (Omens & Prognostics)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a traditional house, a dog barks near the inner rooms while the householder looks worried; in a second moment, the dog sniffs a person’s left side and the mood turns hopeful regarding gain.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior courtyard house, dog barking near threshold to inner chamber, anxious householder, second vignette of dog sniffing left side with calmer faces, bold flat colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly decorated domestic scene with gold borders, dog barking inside near lamps, then dog sniffing left side of a merchant/householder holding a purse, auspicious motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional two-scene composition, clear gestures showing ‘inside house barking’ vs ‘left-side sniffing’, soft palette and precise outlines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed interior architecture and textiles, dog barking in inner quarters, then sniffing left side of a figure, attendants reacting with concern then relief"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अन्तर्गृहे = अन्तः + गृहे (अव्ययीभाव); गृहेशस्य = गृह + ईशस्य; भवेद्भषन् = भवेत् + भषन्; वामाङ्गम् = वाम + अङ्गम्; स्यादर्थसिद्धये = स्यात् + अर्थसिद्धये.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 231 (household animal omens; left/right sign logic)
FAQs
It teaches Śakuna-vidyā: interpreting a dog’s behavior (barking indoors; sniffing the left side) as predictive omens for death or for successful gain (arthasiddhi).
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves applied prognostics—everyday divinatory rules used for decision-making in domestic and social life.
It frames worldly events as sign-governed (nimitta), encouraging vigilance and timely remedial action (śānti) when inauspicious portents arise, and confidence when auspicious signs appear.