Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 19
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
श्वाविद्वृषभगोमायुवृककोकिलसारसाः तुरङ्गकौपीननरा गोधा ह्य् उभयचारिणः
śvāvidvṛṣabhagomāyuvṛkakokilasārasāḥ turaṅgakaupīnanarā godhā hy ubhayacāriṇaḥ
سہی (شوابِد)، بیل، گیدڑ (گومایو)، بھیڑیا، کوئل اور سارَس؛ گھوڑے، لنگوٹ باندھنے والے انسان، اور گوہ—یہی حقیقتاً ‘اُبھَیچاری’ (دو طرح/دو دائرے میں چلنے والے) کہے گئے ہیں۔
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic classifications)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Zoological/behavioral classification (ubhayacārin) used in dietetics, materia medica sourcing, and interpreting animal behavior in environment-based reasoning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ubhayacārin—creatures moving in two spheres/ways","lookup_keywords":["ubhayacārin","godhā","śvāvid","gomāyu","sārasa"],"quick_summary":"Defines a class of beings termed ubhayacārin and lists examples; useful for organizing animal-based knowledge in applied sciences (food, medicine, omens)."}
Concept: Systematizing living beings by modes of movement/habitat as a foundation for applied knowledge.
Application: Use consistent categories (habitat, movement, diet) when recording observations or compiling nighaṇṭu-like lists.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda / Prakriti and Zoological Classification (Ubhayacāri—amphibious or dual-moving creatures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A comparative tableau showing listed ubhayacārin creatures: porcupine, bull, jackal, wolf, cuckoo, crane, horse, a loincloth-wearing human, and an iguana, arranged as a teaching chart.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, educational frieze of animals and a human figure, bold outlines, flat color blocks, each creature in a distinct pose indicating dual movement/habitat.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate bordered panel with grouped animals, gold accents on horns/feathers, central title cartouche 'Ubhayacārin'.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional plate, labeled figures, gentle gradients, emphasis on accurate silhouettes and distinguishing marks.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic animal studies in a garden/river-edge setting, fine fur/feather detail, a human in kaupīna included as a comparative figure."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"neutral","suggested_raga":"Raga Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hy = hi (particle) with sandhi before vowel. Large animal lists treated as Dvandva compounds.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 230 (Prakṛti/zoological classification portion)
FAQs
It imparts classificatory knowledge used in Ayurvedic and encyclopedic contexts: identifying a set of beings as ubhayacārin—those considered to function across two modes/spheres of movement or habitat.
By cataloging species and assigning them to a technical category (ubhayacārin), the text preserves a compact taxonomy—typical of the Agni Purana’s broad coverage from ritual to medicine to natural history.
The verse is primarily descriptive rather than prescriptive; its significance lies in supporting correct knowledge (samyag-jñāna) used in dharmic, medical, and interpretive applications where precise categories matter.