Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 2
Chapter 244 — चामरादिलक्षणम् / आयुधलक्षणादि
Characteristics of the Fly-whisk and Related Royal Emblems; Weapon Characteristics
पक्षैर् वाथ बलाकाया न कार्यं मिश्रपक्षकैः न शथेति छ जठरमित्यादिः, ततो गुणा इत्य् अन्तः पाठः घ , ञ , पुस्तकद्वये नास्ति चतुरस्यं ब्राह्मणस्य वृत्तं राज्ञश् च शुक्लकं
pakṣair vātha balākāyā na kāryaṃ miśrapakṣakaiḥ na śatheti cha jaṭharamityādiḥ, tato guṇā ity antaḥ pāṭhaḥ gha , ña , pustakadvaye nāsti caturasyaṃ brāhmaṇasya vṛttaṃ rājñaś ca śuklakaṃ
以鹤（balākā）之翼，不应以杂合不配之翼而行事。（诸抄本或增读如“na śatheti … jaṭharam ityādiḥ”；又有两部抄本缺末尾内文“tato guṇāḥ”。）此被引为譬喻（śuklaka），以明机敏婆罗门与君王之行仪。
Lord Agni (traditional frame: Agni instructing Vasiṣṭha; verse here functions as a didactic/poetics citation with manuscript notes)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Alamkara","secondary_vidya":"Arthashastra","practical_application":"Use as a niti-illustration (dṛṣṭānta) and as a textual-critical note on variant readings; teaches appropriateness and non-mixture of incompatible means.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Dṛṣṭānta (Śuklaka): do not use mismatched wings (means)","lookup_keywords":["balākā (crane)","miśra-pakṣa","dṛṣṭānta","śuklaka","nīti"],"quick_summary":"A proverb-like illustration: do not attempt an undertaking with mismatched wings—i.e., do not combine incompatible means. The verse also preserves manuscript-variant notes, showing scholastic transmission."}
Alamkara Type: Dṛṣṭānta (illustrative analogy)
Concept: Aucitya (appropriateness): success requires coherent, non-contradictory instruments and conduct.
Application: In governance and personal action, avoid patchwork strategies; align resources, allies, and methods to the task.
Khanda Section: Sahitya-shastra (Kavya/Alankara and Niti-illustrations)
Primary Rasa: Hāsya
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A crane attempting to fly with mismatched wings (one different bird wing), illustrating failure/awkwardness; alongside a courtly vignette of a clever brāhmaṇa and a king as the cited śuklaka example.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized crane with asymmetrical wings, humorous didactic tone, secondary panel showing brāhmaṇa advising a king in court, bold outlines and flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central crane with mismatched wings framed by ornate borders, small inset of king and brāhmaṇa, gold leaf accents highlighting the moral emblem.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional split-scene: left crane with mixed wings labeled by visual cues, right a king receiving counsel from a clever brāhmaṇa, fine linework and soft palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, naturalistic bird study of a crane with one foreign wing, humorous court anecdote in background with king and brāhmaṇa, detailed landscape and architectural elements."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Khamaj","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pakṣair → pakṣaiḥ; jaṭharamityādiḥ → jaṭharam + iti + ādiḥ; rājñaś ca → rājñaḥ + ca (visarga sandhi). Note: This item contains editorial/critical apparatus; several words function as variant-reading markers rather than verse syntax.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 244 (didactic/nīti illustrations around royal protocol)
FAQs
It imparts a didactic nyāya used in kāvya/poetics: do not attempt an undertaking with incompatible means (symbolized by “mixed wings”).
Alongside ritual and polity, the Agni Purana also teaches literary theory and didactic exempla; this verse functions as a stock illustration for conduct (of brāhmaṇa and king) and even preserves manuscript-variant awareness.
It promotes dhārmic prudence: right ends should be pursued with proper, coherent means—avoiding crooked or mismatched methods that lead to failure and demerit.