Agnipurana 262

English (machine translation) 262

Language: English

262.9 — 2 parts
262.19 — 3 parts
262.30 — 1 part
262.33 — 3 parts

262.1

Puṣkara said:
The Śrīsūkta is known in each Veda to increase prosperity.
"hiraṇyavarṇāṃ hariṇīm" comprises fifteen verses of Śrī;

262.2

"ratheṣv akṣeṣu vājeṣu" comprises four verses to Śrī in the Yajurveda;
likewise the Srāvantīya chant is the Śrīsūkta in the Sāmaveda.

262.3

In the Atharvaveda, it is recited as "śriyaṃ dhātar mayi dhehi".
He who, with devotion, offers fire oblations and recites the Śrīsūkta, prosperity shall be his.

262.4

Having offered lotuses, vilva fruits, clarified butter, or sesame seeds of Śrī—
and the single Puruṣasūkta in each Veda bestows all things.

262.5

Freed from sin, one should offer a handful of water with each [verse of the] sūkta;
having bathed, giving a flower to Viṣṇu with each one, he becomes a destroyer of sins.

262.6

Having bathed, by offering a fruit with each one, he enjoys all desires.
Having recited the Puruṣasūkta, he is freed from mortal sins and minor sins.

262.7

Purified by kṛcchra penances, reciting [it], offering fire oblations, and having bathed, he enjoys all.
Out of eighteen pacifications, three other pacifications are the best:

262.8

the Amṛtā, the Abhayā, and the Saumyā, which crush all portents.
The Amṛtā has all deities as its divinity; the Abhayā has Brahmā as its deity;

262.9

and the Saumyā has all deities as its divinity; each single one grants all desires.

262.9.p2

1. "hy ekaikaśaḥ" thus in manuscripts ka, gha, cha, and ña. / [Page 461]

262.9_2

For the Abhayā, an amulet of Varuṇa should be made, O best of the Bhṛgus;

262.10

the hundred-knotted [dūrvā] for the Amṛtā, and an amulet made of conch for the Saumyā.
Likewise the mantras belong to those deities; upon accomplishment, tying the amulet should take place.

262.11

These destroy celestial, atmospheric, and terrestrial portents.
Hear from me about the three kinds of portents—celestial, atmospheric, and terrestrial:

262.12

aberrations of planets and lunar mansions are celestial; know from me the atmospheric:
the fall of meteors, the red glow of the horizon, and likewise halos [around the sun or moon],

262.13

and the city of the Gandharvas, and unnatural rainfall.
Whatever occurs among mobile or immobile things on earth, and an earthquake, is born of the earth.

262.14

If rain falls within a week [of it], the portent causes fear;
without pacification, the portent causes fear for three years.

262.15

If divine images dance, tremble, and blaze,
or wail, weep, perspire, and laugh,

262.16

the pacification of a change in an image is performed after worship and fire oblations to Prajāpati.
Where fire blazes without fuel in a kingdom and makes a loud sound,

262.17

or does not blaze even when supplied with fuel, that kingdom is oppressed by kings.
The pacification of fire's unnatural state is by means of Agni's mantras, O descendant of Bhṛgu.

262.18

When trees bear fruit out of season, and ooze milk or blood,
one should bring about the pacification of tree portents by worshipping Śiva.

262.19

Excessive rain and drought are both considered to lead to famine.

262.19.p1

[Footnote] / 1. "siddhyā" thus in manuscripts gha and ña.

262.19.p2

2. "devatāś ca" thus in manuscripts kha and cha.

262.19.p3

3. "āvaṭan" thus in manuscripts kha, gha, cha, and ña. / [Page 462]

262.19_2

Rain beginning out of season and lasting three days should be known to cause fear.

262.20

The destruction of unnatural rainfall comes from worshipping Parjanya, the Moon, and the Sun.
If rivers, lakes, and springs withdraw from a city,

262.21

or draw near it, or become tasteless—
in the case of an unnatural state of bodies of water, the mantra of Varuṇa is to be recited.

262.22

When women give birth out of season, or produce no offspring in season,
or have unnatural births, twins, and the like,

262.23

in an unnatural state of women's childbirth, one should worship women, brāhmaṇas, and others.
If a mare, female elephant, or cow gives birth to twins,

262.24

or to a different species or a deformed creature, it surely dies in six months;
or if they give birth to monstrosities, there will be danger from an enemy army.

In the case of an unnatural birth, a fire oblation, recitation, and the worship of brāhmaṇas and others [should be performed].
When unhitched conveyances move, and hitched ones do not carry [their loads],

262.26

and the sounds of musical instruments [are heard] in the sky, great danger is imminent.
When wild beasts and birds enter a village,

262.27

or domestic animals go into the forest; when land animals enter water, / or aquatic creatures go onto land; or when jackals [cry] at the king's gate and the like;

262.28

or a rooster cries at dusk, or a jackal [howls] at sunrise;
or a pigeon enters a house, or a flesh-eating bird perches on a person's head;

262.29

or a fly produces honey, or a crow is seen mating;
or the motiveless collapse of temples, archways, gardens,

262.30

gates, ramparts, and houses that were firmly built, leads to the death of the king;
or when the directions are filled with dust or smoke:

262.30.p1

[Page 463]

262.31

The appearance of comets, eclipses, and blemishes on the moon and sun, / and where there is abnormality among the planets and asterisms: there too one should predict danger.