Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

शुनः स्थाने गजं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रभार्यासमागमः / श्वस्थाने च स्थिते ध्वाङ्क्षे पीडास्यात्कुलनाशनम्

Transliteration

śunaḥ sthāne gajaṃ dṛṣṭvā putrabhāryāsamāgamaḥ / śvasthāne ca sthite dhvāṅkṣe pīḍāsyātkulanāśanam

Translation

Sieht man im Ort des Hundes einen Elefanten, so kündet dies das Zusammenkommen mit Sohn und Gattin an. Sitzt jedoch eine Krähe im Ort des Hundes, so bedeutet es Bedrängnis und sogar den Untergang der Familienlinie.

Word by Word

• śunaḥ: of a dog
• śunaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• sthāne: in the place
• sthāne: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• gajam: an elephant
• gajam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (त्वान्त), pūrvakāla-kriyā

• putra-bhāryā-samāgamaḥ: reunion with son and wife
• putra-bhāryā-samāgamaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक) + samāgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (samāgamaḥ with putra-bhāryā as qualifiers; sense: ‘meeting/union with son and wife’)

• śva-sthāne: in the dog’s place
• śva-sthāne: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana; Samāsa: ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (śunas sthānam)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/particle)

• sthite: when (it is) situated
• sthite: Adhikaraṇa (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: PPP (क्त), Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative absolute

• dhvāṅkṣe: in/when (there is) a crow
• dhvāṅkṣe: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvāṅkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• pīḍā: affliction
• pīḍā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• syāt: would be
• syāt: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• kula-nāśanam: destruction of the family
• kula-nāśanam: Karta (Apposition to subject/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā? (context apposition to pīḍā; taken as Prathamā), Ekavacana; Samāsa: ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (kulasya nāśanam)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Household welfare and lineage continuity are fragile; auspicious signs encourage reunion, inauspicious signs demand protective dharmic action.

Vedantic Theme: Gṛhastha-dharma within saṃsāra: attachment to family is natural yet impermanent; vigilance and right conduct mitigate suffering.

Application: When signs are favorable, strengthen family bonds; when ominous, increase care for dependents, address threats to health/finances/reputation, and perform protective rites customary to one’s tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/omen-locus near home boundary

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.199 (omens affecting family, kula, and affliction)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse shows that everyday sightings are read as indicators of future outcomes—some promising family cohesion, others warning of impending distress and decline—so one remains alert and corrective in conduct.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana’s broader themes?

While much of the Garuda Purana addresses death, afterlife, and karma, it also teaches practical dharma through signs and warnings—linking visible events to unseen karmic tendencies affecting a household.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat “bad signs” as prompts for self-audit: reduce conflict, avoid harmful actions, strengthen family duties, and increase sattvic practices (charity, prayer, restraint) rather than falling into fear or superstition.