Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 15
Rudra-śānti (रुद्रशान्ति)
विष्ण्वंश इति ञ रुद्रांशको भवेद्वीर इन्द्रांशश्चेश्वरप्रियः नागांशो नागस्तब्धाक्षो यक्षांशो भूषणप्रियः
viṣṇvaṃśa iti ña rudrāṃśako bhavedvīra indrāṃśaśceśvarapriyaḥ nāgāṃśo nāgastabdhākṣo yakṣāṃśo bhūṣaṇapriyaḥ
Người mang phần/thuộc hệ của Viṣṇu được biểu thị bằng âm tiết “ña”. Người mang phần của Rudra trở nên dũng mãnh; người mang phần của Indra thì được Chúa tể yêu mến (và kính mộ Īśvara). Người mang phần của Nāga thì như loài Nāga, có ánh nhìn vững, không chớp; người mang phần của Yakṣa thì ưa chuộng đồ trang sức.
Lord Agni (teaching in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Samanya","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Physiognomy/character reading via ‘aṃśa’ (divine portion) typology: infer temperament and preferences (heroism, devotion, ornament-love, steady gaze) and use it for social/ritual role assignment or narrative characterization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Manuṣya-lakṣaṇa by Divine Aṃśa (Viṣṇu, Rudra, Indra, Nāga, Yakṣa)","lookup_keywords":["viṣṇv-aṃśa","rudrāṃśa-vīra","indrāṃśa","nāgāṃśa-stabdhākṣa","yakṣāṃśa-bhūṣaṇa-priya"],"quick_summary":"Human traits are mapped to divine ‘portions’: Viṣṇu-linked persons are marked by a specific syllabic sign (ña) in this system; Rudra-portion yields valor, Indra-portion yields īśvara-priyatā/bhakti, Nāga-portion shows an unblinking steady gaze, and Yakṣa-portion shows fondness for ornaments."}
Concept: Guṇa/pravṛtti inferred through aṃśa-bheda: aligning one’s duties and associations with innate disposition understood as divine-derived tendencies.
Application: Use as a cautionary, non-deterministic guide: assign responsibilities (leadership, worship service, guarding, treasury/ornaments) in line with observed traits, while cultivating dharmic refinement beyond mere typology.
Khanda Section: Manushya-lakshana & Aṃśa-bheda (Physiognomy/characterology by divine ‘portion’)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lineup of five human figures each subtly bearing the aura/emblems of their aṃśa-source: Viṣṇu-marked with a ‘ña’ sign, Rudra-marked warrior stance, Indra-marked devotee posture, Nāga-marked person with steady unblinking eyes, Yakṣa-marked richly ornamented figure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, five-panel frieze of archetypal persons with deity-colored halos: Viṣṇu blue aura with ‘ña’ glyph, Rudra ash-grey heroic figure, Indra golden devotee, Nāga greenish gaze-focused figure, Yakṣa jeweled figure; bold outlines and flat temple palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate five-figure composition with gold-leaf jewelry especially on Yakṣa-aṃśa figure, halos and emblematic motifs (conch, trident, vajra, serpent hood), rich saturated colors, icon-like symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional character-sheet layout: each figure labeled with aṃśa and key lakṣaṇa (vīra, īśvara-priya, stabdhākṣa, bhūṣaṇa-priya), fine linework and gentle shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly album page of five portraits with marginal notes in calligraphy describing traits; Yakṣa-aṃśa in luxurious attire, Rudrāṃśa in martial dress, Nāgāṃśa with intense steady eyes; delicate borders and pastel palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्ण्वंशः = विष्णु + अंशः; भवेद्वीर = भवेत् + वीरः; इन्द्रांशश्चेश्वरप्रियः = इन्द्रांशः + च + ईश्वरप्रियः; नागांशो = नागांशः (ओ-आदेशः); यक्षांशो = यक्षांशः (ओ-आदेशः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 324 (aṃśa-bheda and lakṣaṇa materials)
FAQs
It imparts a diagnostic ‘aṃśa-lakṣaṇa’ framework—reading temperament and outward markers (heroism, devotion, gaze, love of ornaments) as indicators of a person’s dominant divine ‘portion’ in Puranic anthropology.
Beyond ritual and theology, it catalogs human typologies and behavioral markers, showing the Agni Purana’s broad scope: a compendium that includes character-science, signs, and classificatory knowledge alongside dharma and worship.
It frames virtues and tendencies (valor, devotion, steadiness, attachment to adornment) as spiritually meaningful dispositions; recognizing them is meant to guide self-cultivation—strengthening sattvic devotion and moderating binding attachments.