Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

त्रिरेखा गोमूर्त्रिकाभा अथवा प्रश्रवाक्यतः / दिशस्थानप्रसूतो वा ध्वजादीन्गणयेत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

trirekhā gomūrtrikābhā athavā praśravākyataḥ / diśasthānaprasūto vā dhvajādīngaṇayetkramāt

Translation

Ob es als dreifache Linie erscheint, einem Kuhurin-Mal ähnlich, oder als Zeichen aus einer tropfenden/sickernden Spur—oder gar als etwas, das aus einer bestimmten Richtung und einem Ort hervorgeht—man soll solche Omina der Reihe nach aufzählen und deuten, beginnend mit dem „Banner“ und den übrigen.

Word by Word

• त्रिरेखा: three-lined
• त्रिरेखा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (त्रयो रेखाः यस्य/यस्या)

• गोमूत्रिकाभा: having the appearance of a ‘gomūtrikā’ pattern
• गोमूत्रिकाभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोमूत्रिका (प्रातिपदिक) + आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गोमूत्रिकायाः आभा/सदृशी)

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive)

• प्रश्रवाक्यतः: from/according to the praśrava statement/utterance
• प्रश्रवाक्यतः: Hetu/Source (Ablatival source/अपादान-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रश्रव (प्रातिपदिक) + क्यतस्/क्यतः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘-तः’ = ‘from/according to’

• दिशस्थानप्रसूतो: arisen from the directional location
• दिशस्थानप्रसूतो: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसूत (प्रातिपदिक; √सू क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः (दिशां स्थानं = दिशस्थानम्; तस्मात् प्रसूतः)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (particle)

• ध्वजादीन्: the (signs) beginning with ‘banner’, etc.
• ध्वजादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ समासान्त (and others beginning with ‘dhvaja’)

• गणयेत्: should count/enumerate
• गणयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गण् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Adverbial (Kriya-visheshana/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावे प्रयोगः (adverbial: ‘in order/stepwise’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nimitta-jñāna: interpreting spontaneous forms/marks as indicators for outcomes and decisions.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti’s appearances can be read as causal indicators within vyavahāra; discernment (viveka) guides action without claiming ultimate reality for signs.

Application: When using traditional omen systems, record form, direction, and context; interpret in a fixed sequence to avoid confirmation bias and arbitrariness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/omen-reading site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: nimitta/śakuna and ritual-result discussions (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of omens (nimitta) like trirekhā or gomūtrikābhā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames such marks as codified signs to be read systematically—starting from categories like ‘dhvaja’—so that ritual and dharmic decisions are made with traditional discernment rather than guesswork.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on death rituals and outcomes?

In Garuda Purana, signs arising on the body or in the environment are often used to assess ritual timing and the unseen condition surrounding a person; this verse highlights an ordered method of interpreting those indications, which supports correct observance of rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reminder to follow established procedure and qualified guidance in sensitive rites (antyeṣṭi/śrāddha), and to avoid superstition by relying on structured, scriptural frameworks and ethical living.