Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 19
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
श्वाविद्वृषभगोमायुवृककोकिलसारसाः तुरङ्गकौपीननरा गोधा ह्य् उभयचारिणः
śvāvidvṛṣabhagomāyuvṛkakokilasārasāḥ turaṅgakaupīnanarā godhā hy ubhayacāriṇaḥ
Nhím, bò đực, chó rừng (gomāyu), sói, chim cu cu (kokila) và chim hạc (sārasa); ngựa, người mặc khố (kaupīna), và kỳ đà (godhā)—những loài ấy quả thật được gọi là “ubhayacārin” (đi lại trong hai cõi/thuộc hai phạm vi).
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.