Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 5
Chapter 242 — पुरुषलक्षणं
Purusha-Lakshana): Marks of a Man (Physiognomy
चतुष्किष्कुश् चतुर्दंष्ट्रः शुक्लकृष्णस्तथैव च चतुर्गन्धश् चतुर्ह्रस्वः सूक्ष्मदीर्घश् च पञ्चसु
catuṣkiṣkuś caturdaṃṣṭraḥ śuklakṛṣṇastathaiva ca caturgandhaś caturhrasvaḥ sūkṣmadīrghaś ca pañcasu
Inilalarawan siya na may apat na sangkap o bahagi, apat na pangil, at may kapwa puti at itim; may apat na uri ng amoy, apat na uri ng ‘kaiksian’, at—sa limang (bahagi o tanda)—siya’y maselan at mahaba.
Lord Agni (teaching to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Occult/diagnostic reading of anomalous bodily traits (color duality, odors, dentition, proportions) for prognostics, spirit-influence assessment, or ritual decision-making.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Bhūta/Occult-lakṣaṇa: catuṣ- and pañca-based trait clusters","lookup_keywords":["bhuta-lakshana","caturdamshtra","caturgandha","shukla-krishna","sukshma-dirgha"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates clustered bodily/phenomenal traits (fourfold and fivefold groupings) used in occult physiognomy to classify persons by unusual markers such as dentition, odor, coloration, and proportion."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Lakṣaṇa-reading extends to liminal/occult domains: the body’s anomalies are treated as signs indicating hidden conditions or influences.
Application: Use as a cautionary screening rubric in ritual/social contexts; alternatively reinterpret as prompts for medical evaluation.
Khanda Section: Tantric-Bhuta-Lakshana (Occult physiology and diagnostic marks)
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An esoteric diagnostic scene: a practitioner notes unusual traits—prominent fangs, dual coloration (white/black), and symbolic ‘four odors/four shortnesses’—with a fivefold classification wheel indicating ‘subtle’ and ‘long’ among five categories.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: dramatic, stylized figure with contrasting white/black body sections; a tantric diagnostician holding a palm-leaf chart of fourfold and fivefold symbols; deep reds and blacks, ritual ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central figure with highlighted teeth and contrasting complexion; gold-embossed yantra-like diagram showing catuṣ and pañca groupings; ornate frame, temple-lamp motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: technical illustration style—annotated figure with callouts for dentition, odor, proportion; a circular chart dividing traits into four and five segments; clean, readable layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a learned occultist/physician examining a subject; subtle depiction of dual coloration and emphasized teeth; marginalia showing a fourfold grid and fivefold wheel; intimate indoor study with instruments and manuscripts."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: catuṣkiṣkuś = catuṣ-kiṣkuḥ; śuklakṛṣṇas = śukla-kṛṣṇaḥ; caturgandhaś = catur-gandhaḥ; caturhrasvaḥ unchanged; sūkṣmadīrghaś = sūkṣma-dīrghaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana samudrika/bhūta-lakṣaṇa passages around this verse (same adhyāya cluster)
FAQs
This verse lists diagnostic ‘lakṣaṇas’—formal identifying markers (color, fangs, odors, bodily proportions) used in a fivefold classification to recognize a particular non-human/occult type described in the chapter.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogues applied knowledge systems—here, a taxonomy of occult beings/conditions using standardized physical and sensory descriptors, akin to a technical handbook of signs.
By correctly identifying such lakṣaṇas, a practitioner is implied to avoid harmful contact, choose appropriate counter-measures, and maintain ritual/psychic purity—reducing fear, confusion, and karmically risky actions born of misrecognition.