Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 4
Chapter 230: शकुनानि (Śakunāni) — Omens
पूर्वा पूर्वा च विज्ञेया सा तेषां बलवत्तरा दिवाचरो रात्रिचरस् तथा रात्रौ दिवाचरः
pūrvā pūrvā ca vijñeyā sā teṣāṃ balavattarā divācaro rātricaras tathā rātrau divācaraḥ
于诸项之中，前前者当知其力胜于后后者。是故，昼行者可成夜行；同样地，于夜间亦（反转而）成昼行。
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Jyotisha","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Prioritize earlier time-segments as stronger for judging outcomes; adjust omen interpretation by diurnal/nocturnal behavior (day-movers vs night-movers) depending on whether it is day or night.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kāla-bala: Pūrvapūrva-balatā & Divācara/Rātricara Parivṛtti","lookup_keywords":["kāla-bala","pūrvapūrva","divācara","rātricara","kāla-nirṇaya"],"quick_summary":"Earlier portions of a temporal sequence carry greater strength than later ones. Also, the interpretive category of a mover (day/ night) is reversed relative to the time observed, refining omen strength by context."}
Concept: Contextual inversion: the same entity/sign changes interpretive class by kāla (time), and earlier kāla-units dominate later ones in bala (strength).
Application: For muhūrta/omen judgment, weight early watches/segments more; interpret a creature’s ‘proper’ activity-time against the observed time to decide whether it is ‘out of place’ (thus significant).
Khanda Section: Jyotiṣa / Kāla-nirṇaya (Day–Night Strength and Temporal Classification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A time-wheel showing earlier segments highlighted as stronger; day scene with a creature behaving unusually, and night scene with reversed classification; an astrologer annotates the rule.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large kāla-cakra with first segments painted brighter; left panel daytime with a nocturnal animal appearing; right panel nighttime with a diurnal bird active; sage pointing to the wheel; bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gilded kāla-cakra with emphasized first quadrant; two small narrative vignettes day/night with animals; astrologer in ornate attire; gold foil accents on the wheel.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram: segmented day-night watches labeled, arrows indicating ‘earlier stronger’; side notes on divācara/rātricara inversion; clean linework and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, terrace scene with astronomer and a circular time chart; background split into day and night halves; animals/birds depicted in the ‘wrong’ half; fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: rātricaras → rātri-caraḥ; divācaro → divā-caraḥ; verse is nominal with implied ‘(bhavati)’; vijñeyā is gerundive agreeing with pūrvā/sā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana muhūrta/kāla-nirṇaya passages on day/night divisions and bala; Agni Purana śakuna rules where time-of-occurrence modifies phala
FAQs
It teaches kāla-nirṇaya: earlier portions of a time-sequence are considered more potent, and it notes the functional classification of activity as “day-going” or “night-going” depending on whether it occurs in day or night—useful for muhurta/ritual scheduling.
By preserving applied time-science (Jyotiṣa-style practical rules) alongside theology and ritual, it shows how the Agni Purāṇa functions as a handbook for real-world decision-making—especially selecting stronger/auspicious temporal segments.
Performing rites and duties in the stronger (earlier) time-portions is implied to enhance efficacy and merit, aligning action with favorable temporal potency to support successful, purified outcomes.