Shloka 4

Dhvaja–Dhūmra–Paśu-Ākṛti Śakuna: Interpreting Banner, Smoke, and Animal-Form Omens by Stations

Devanagari script

ध्वजस्थाने ध्वजं दृष्ट्वा राज्यचिन्ताधनादिकम् / ध्वजस्थाने स्थितो धूम्रो धातुचिन्ता च लाभकृत्

Transliteration

dhvajasthāne dhvajaṃ dṛṣṭvā rājyacintādhanādikam / dhvajasthāne sthito dhūmro dhātucintā ca lābhakṛt

Translation

رؤيةُ رايةٍ في موضع الراية تدلّ على انشغال الفكر بالملك والسلطان والمال ونحو ذلك. وإن وُجد دخانٌ رماديّ في موضع الراية دلّ على همٍّ بالمعادن/الفلزّات ويكون سببًا للربح.

Word by Word

• ध्वजस्थाने: in the banner-position/place
• ध्वजस्थाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ध्वजस्य स्थानम्)

• ध्वजं: a banner
• ध्वजं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• राज्यचिन्ताधनादिकम्: matters like concern for kingdom, wealth, etc.
• राज्यचिन्ताधनादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + धन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (राज्य-चिन्ता-धन-आदि-समूहः)

• ध्वजस्थाने: in the banner-position
• ध्वजस्थाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्थितः: being situated/standing
• स्थितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन

• धूम्रः: smoke (as a sign)
• धूम्रः: Karta (Listed sign/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धातुचिन्ता: concern about minerals/metals
• धातुचिन्ता: Karta/Result (Resultant topic/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक) + चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धातूनां चिन्ता)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• लाभकृत्: bringing gain
• लाभकृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लाभ (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्विप्/कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘कृत्’), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (लाभं करोति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nimitta correlates: specific sign + specific locus → specific result (artha/rājya; dhātu-lābha).

Vedantic Theme: Within empirical order, causes and indicators are mapped; yet outcomes remain within saṃsāra and are not ultimate.

Application: Use consistent mapping between observed indicators and decisions; distinguish ‘signal’ (omen) from ‘goal’ (ethical action) to avoid superstition-driven harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: omen-locus within a property/ritual ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: omen-result mappings (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of dhvaja (flag) omens in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the flag-site as a diagnostic place for nimittas: seeing a flag points to thoughts of rulership and wealth, showing how external signs are read to infer coming concerns and outcomes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

This specific verse is not about the soul’s post-death journey; it belongs to a nimitta/omen-based teaching where observable signs (like a flag or smoke) indicate forthcoming worldly results such as gain or political/financial concerns.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to observe patterns and signals before major decisions—especially around leadership and finances—while keeping discernment, since the text frames these as indicative signs rather than guarantees.