Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

गजस्थाने वृषं दृष्ट्वा राजमानधनादिकम् / गजस्थाने खरं दृष्ट्वा पूर्वं दुः खं ततः सुखम्

Transliteration

gajasthāne vṛṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā rājamānadhanādikam / gajasthāne kharaṃ dṛṣṭvā pūrvaṃ duḥ khaṃ tataḥ sukham

Translation

Sieht man am Ort des Elefanten einen Stier, so weist dies auf Königswürde, Ansehen und den Erwerb von Reichtum und dergleichen hin. Sieht man jedoch am Ort des Elefanten einen Esel, so kündet dies zuerst Kummer, danach Glück.

Word by Word

• गजस्थाने: in the elephant-place/sign
• गजस्थाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• वृषम्: a bull
• वृषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verbal action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त

• राजमानधनादिकम्: kingship/royal status, honor, wealth, etc.
• राजमानधनादिकम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज-मान-धन-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (राजा/राज्यं च मानः च धनं च आदि च)

• गजस्थाने: in the elephant-place/sign
• गजस्थाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• खरम्: a donkey
• खरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verbal action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त

• पूर्वम्: first/previously
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), कालवाचक (temporal)

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), क्रम/अपादानार्थक (thereafter/from that)

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Phala can unfold sequentially: initial adversity may precede later happiness; auspicious signs indicate rise in honor and wealth.

Vedantic Theme: Karma ripens in time (kāla); endurance (titikṣā) amid duḥkha and non-attachment to sukha.

Application: If hardship appears, practice patience and corrective action; do not despair—conditions can turn favorable with time and right conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: omenic positional locus (gajasthāna)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.199.26-29 (nimitta series culminating in reversal motif here)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse shows that specific signs are read as indicators of near-term outcomes—prosperity or hardship—linking observable symbols to the unfolding of karmic results.

How does this verse explain the sequence of suffering and happiness?

By stating “sorrow first, then happiness” for the donkey-sign, it frames experience as sequential fruition of karma—difficulty may precede relief rather than being the final state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat changing circumstances with patience and ethical steadiness: prosperity can be used responsibly, and hardship can be endured without despair, remembering that outcomes can shift over time.