Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 65
अश्ववाहनसारः
Aśvavāhana-sāra) — Essentials of Horses as Mounts (and Horse-Treatment
शूद्रो ऽशुचिश् चलो मन्दो विरूपो विमतिः खलः वल्गया धार्यमाणो ऽश्वो लालकं यश् च दर्शयेत्
śūdro 'śuciś calo mando virūpo vimatiḥ khalaḥ valgayā dhāryamāṇo 'śvo lālakaṃ yaś ca darśayet
Một người Śūdra—nếu ô uế, hay thay đổi, đần độn, hình tướng xấu, phán đoán lệch lạc và ác tâm—cũng như con ngựa phải bị giữ chặt bằng dây cương, và bất kỳ con ngựa nào sùi bọt dãi nơi miệng—đều nên hiểu là những điềm bất tường.
Lord Agni (in dialogue to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Reading inauspicious omens in persons and horses for royal travel, purchase, deployment, and court decisions; avoiding bad portents in statecraft.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aśubha-śakuna: Inauspicious signs in a Śūdra and in horses (reins/slavering)","lookup_keywords":["śakuna","aśubha-lakṣaṇa","aśva-lakṣaṇa","lālaka (slavering)","pragraha (reins)"],"quick_summary":"Certain behavioral/physical traits are treated as inauspicious omens; a horse needing constant restraint or showing mouth-slaver is a bad sign for acquisition or undertaking."}
Concept: Rājadharma uses śakuna (omens) as a prudential tool to avert harm and preserve order.
Application: Before journeys, purchases, or deployments, screen for adverse signs and postpone/replace agents or animals.
Khanda Section: Shakuna-vidya (Omens and Physiognomy) / Rajadharma-Upanga
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal stable/court scene where an attendant restrains a restless horse with tight reins while the horse slavering at the mouth is pointed out as an inauspicious sign; an omen-reader advises the king.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, stylized king and omen-reader in court, restless horse with foamy mouth held by groom, palm-leaf manuscript, auspicious/inauspicious motifs, traditional ornaments","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on royal throne and ornaments, groom holding reins of a foaming horse, sage-like śakuna-śāstrin gesturing warning, rich red/green background, temple-lamp details","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional stable scene, labeled reins and mouth-slaver sign, calm advisor explaining to prince, muted palette with fine shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed court and stable architecture, naturalistic horse with visible saliva, attendants restraining with reins, astrologer/omen-reader presenting counsel, intricate textiles and borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ऽ = avagraha: śūdro + aśuciḥ; dhāryamāṇaḥ + aśvaḥ. aśuciś = aśuciḥ (visarga before c). yaś = yaḥ (visarga before c).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 287 (Śakuna-vidyā / Rājadharma-upāṅga); Agni Purana 287-288 (transition to Aśva-lakṣaṇa/Śālihotra)
FAQs
It teaches shakuna-vidyā: identifying inauspicious indicators from a person’s observable traits and from a horse’s behavior (needing constant restraint, frothing/slavering), useful for decisions like travel, purchase, or royal expeditions.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana compiles applied knowledge for governance and daily life; this verse exemplifies its catalog of predictive signs (human/animal lakṣaṇas) used in statecraft, commerce, and planning.
It frames prudence as dharmic conduct: avoiding inauspicious circumstances helps prevent harm and unfavorable outcomes, aligning action with orderly, auspicious timing and conditions.