Agni Purana — Veda-vidhana & Vamsha, Shloka 19
Utpāta-śānti
Pacification of Portents
अतिवृष्टिरनावृष्टिर्दुर्भिक्षायोभयं मतं सिद्ध्या इति घ , ञ च देवताश्चेति ख , छ च आवटन्तीति ख , घ , छ , ञ च अनृतौ त्रिदिनारब्धवृष्टिर्ज्ञेया भयाय हि
ativṛṣṭiranāvṛṣṭirdurbhikṣāyobhayaṃ mataṃ siddhyā iti gha , ña ca devatāśceti kha , cha ca āvaṭantīti kha , gha , cha , ña ca anṛtau tridinārabdhavṛṣṭirjñeyā bhayāya hi
ทั้งฝนตกหนักเกินและฝนแล้ง ต่างถูกนับว่าเป็นเหตุแห่งทุพภิกขภัย; และฝนที่เริ่มตกนอกฤดูต่อเนื่องสามวัน ก็พึงรู้แน่ว่าเป็นนิมิตแห่งความน่าหวาดหวั่น
Lord Agni (narrating the omens section to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Forecasting public calamity (famine/danger) from rainfall anomalies—excess, drought, and unseasonal three-day rains—so rulers/communities can perform śānti and plan relief.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Vṛṣṭi-vaikṛtya as famine/danger omen","lookup_keywords":["ativṛṣṭi","anāvṛṣṭi","durbhikṣa","anṛtu-vṛṣṭi","tri-dina-vṛṣṭi"],"quick_summary":"Both too much rain and too little rain are read as causes of famine. Unseasonal rain persisting for three days is specifically marked as a danger-omen, prompting precautionary rites and practical preparedness."}
Concept: Reading natural patterns as predictive signs for collective welfare; aligning human action (policy/ritual) with seasonal order.
Application: Use rainfall anomalies as triggers for grain storage, irrigation measures, charity/relief, and appropriate śānti rites to calm public fear.
Khanda Section: Jyotiṣa & Śakuna-śāstra (Omens of rain, famine, and public calamity)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Contrasting scenes of torrential rain and parched fields; then an unseasonal rain lasting three days, with anxious farmers and officials interpreting it as a danger sign.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split composition: left heavy monsoon deluge, right cracked earth drought, central panel shows unseasonal rain over three days symbolized by three cloud bands, villagers seeking śānti at a shrine","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, personified rain clouds with gold accents above fields, juxtaposed with famine imagery (empty granaries), king performing charity, ornate borders and gilded highlights","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional tableau: calendar/season markers, three-day rain indicated by three sequential cloud motifs, officials recording omens, farmers preparing granaries, soft colors and fine lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed agrarian landscape with canals and fields, sudden off-season rain over three days shown in narrative sequence, court astrologer advising the governor, delicate cloud rendering"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Malhar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ativṛṣṭiranāvṛṣṭiḥ = ativṛṣṭiḥ + anāvṛṣṭiḥ. durbhikṣāyobhayaṃ = durbhikṣa-āyaḥ + ubhayam (visarga sandhi). devatāśceti = devatāḥ + ca + iti. tridinārabdhavṛṣṭiḥ = tri-dina-ārabdha-vṛṣṭiḥ. Note: the inserted ‘gha/ña/kha/cha’ are manuscript/edition markers and not part of the Sanskrit syntax.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 262 (śakuna/utpāta and phala)
FAQs
It teaches śakuna/jyotiṣa-style nimitta-reading: identifying excessive rain, drought, and unseasonal three-day rain as predictive indicators of scarcity and danger.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical prognostics about climate irregularities and social risk—showing the text’s coverage of applied knowledge (nimitta-śāstra) relevant to governance and public welfare.
By recognizing ominous natural signs, a community can undertake timely protective rites and ethical restraint; the teaching frames disorder in seasons as a warning that calls for vigilance and corrective dharmic action.