Agnipurana 231

English (machine translation) 231

Language: English

231.9 — 3 parts
231.19 — 3 parts
231.30 — 3 parts
231.38 — 5 parts

231.1

Puṣkara said: / By whichever road many crows enter a city, / by that road will be the capture of the besieged city.

231.2

If a crow cawing alights in an army for lodging, / being on the left, distressed by fear, and terrified, it foretells insurmountable fear.

231.3

When it pecks at a shadow, a limb, a vehicle, shoes, an umbrella, or garments, / there is death; in revering them, respect; in doing what is pleasing to it, good fortune.

231.4

A crow going back and forth at the door causes the arrival of a traveller. / Dropping a red or burnt object in the house, it indicates fire.

231.5

If it should place a red [object] in front, it indicates imprisonment; / likewise a yellow object [indicates] gold, and silver [indicates] silver, O Bhārgava.

231.6

Whatever object it brings, one should predict the acquisition thereof; / or whatever object it carries away, one should predict the loss thereof.

231.7

Upon vomiting raw meat in front, there will be gain of wealth; / upon throwing soil, gain of land; upon offering a jewel, a great kingdom.

231.8

A favorable crow brings welfare to a traveler and makes him successful in his endeavor; / but an unfavorable [crow] is to be known as not accomplishing aims and bringing fear.

231.9

Coming directly in front while crying out, it causes disruption to the journey. / A crow on the left is remembered as auspicious; on the right, it causes loss of wealth.

231.9.p1

[...]

231.9.p2

1. Manuscripts kha and cha read "duṣkaram".

231.9.p3

2. Manuscripts ga, gha, and ña read "dakṣiṇo 'nnavināśakṛt". / [Page 339]

231.10

On the left going with the wind is best; on the right is considered middling. / Moving against the wind on the left prohibits traveling.

231.11

Gone to a house, it indicates the desired purpose for a journey. / But moving with one eye or foot while looking at the sun, it brings fear.

231.12

And dwelling in a hollow, it causes great calamity. / A crow in a barren ground is not auspicious, but smeared with mud it is commended.

231.13

A crow whose mouth is full of impure matter accomplishes all ends. / Other birds should also be understood like the crow, O son of Bhṛgu.

231.14

Dogs staying to the right of an army camp destroy the Brahmins; / at Indra's station, [they destroy] the king; at the gate, the lord of the city.

231.15

Barking inside the house, it leads to the death of the master of the house. / The one whose left limb it smells will have attainment of wealth.

231.16

The right limb [it smells] leads to fear, and likewise the left arm. / Coming face-to-face, it disrupts the journey of the traveler.

231.17

Obstructing the path on a road, it announces thieves, O Bhārgava. / With a bone in its mouth it is evil, causing failure; likewise with a rope or rag in its mouth.

231.18

With a shoe in its mouth it is auspicious, and also with a mouth full of meat. / An inauspicious substance or hair in its mouth is likewise unfavorable.

231.19

The one in front of whom it urinates and walks on will have fear. / An auspicious land or tree upon which it urinates and goes,

231.19.p1

[...]

231.19.p2

1. The passage beginning with "nanvarthasādhakaḥ" and ending with "gṛhe gataḥ" is absent in manuscript ṭa.

231.19.p3

2. The passage beginning with "koṭare" and ending with "sarvārthasādhakaḥ" is absent in manuscript ṭa. / [Page 340]

231.20

and likewise an auspicious substance, will lead to his attainment of prosperity. / And jackals and other [animals] are to be known like dogs, O Rāma.

231.21

A groundless cry of cows is to be known to cause fear to the owner; / at night, it leads to fear of thieves, and unnatural [crying leads] to death.

231.22

An ox bellowing at night brings welfare to its master. / A bull set free confers victory upon a king.

231.23

And cows that eat fearlessly, as well as those given away as one's own, [are auspicious]; / those lacking affection for their calves are considered to cause loss of the womb.

231.24

Cows striking the ground with their feet, wretched and frightened, bring fear. / Those whose limbs are wet, whose hair stands on end, and who have mud sticking to their horns, are auspicious.

231.25

All this should also be declared by a knowledgeable person regarding she-buffaloes and the like. / Likewise, if a horse with a saddle is mounted by another,

231.26

[or] sitting in water, or rolling on the ground—[these] are not desirable; / or sleeping without cause brings calamity to the horse.

231.27

Sudden aversion to barley and sweets is not praised; / bleeding from the mouth and trembling are not praised.

231.28

Playing alone with pigeons or with mynas indicates death; / with tearful eyes and licking its legs with its tongue, [it leads] to destruction.

231.29

And scratching the earth with its left foot, / or sleeping on its left side during the day, does not bestow good fortune.

231.30

Excreting urine and dung together, or having a face clouded with sleep, brings fear.

231.30.p1

[...]

231.30.p2

1. "Saparyārhasya" is the correct reading.

231.30.p3

2. "Vināśakṛt" in manuscripts ja and ṭa.
Page 341.

231.30_2

If it does not permit mounting, or turns back to the stable,

231.31

it indicates an obstacle to the expedition; likewise, touching its left flank [is ominous]. / Neighing [and] touching an enemy warrior with its hoof brings victory.

231.32

If an elephant enters a village, copulation [there] destroys the country; / a female elephant giving birth or in musth leads to the end of the king.

231.33

If it does not permit mounting, or turns back to its stable, / or if the elephant sheds its musth, it will cause the death of the king.

231.34

When it steps over its left foot with its right foot, it is auspicious; / and likewise when it wipes its right tusk with its trunk.

231.35

A bull, horse, or elephant that goes over to the enemy army is inauspicious. / Through the excessive rain of scattered clouds, an army meets destruction.

231.36

Due to adverse planets and lunar mansions, as well as a headwind, / at the time of an expedition or in battle, the falling of umbrellas and the like brings fear.

231.37

Men who are joyous and planets that are favorable are marks of victory; / the overcoming of warriors by crows [is unfavorable], and by carnivorous creatures [indicates] destruction of the realm.