Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

ध्वाङ्क्षस्थाने स्थिते सिंहे विग्रहो दुः खमेव च / ध्वाङ्क्षस्थाने स्थिते श्वाने गृहभङ्गभयादिकम्

Transliteration

dhvāṅkṣasthāne sthite siṃhe vigraho duḥ khameva ca / dhvāṅkṣasthāne sthite śvāne gṛhabhaṅgabhayādikam

Translation

Am Ort der Krähe kündigt ein dort stehender Löwe Streit und nichts als Leid an. Steht am Krähenort ein Hund, so weist dies auf Furcht hin, etwa auf den Zerfall von Haus und Besitz und verwandtes Unheil.

Word by Word

• ध्वाङ्क्षस्थाने: in the crow’s place
• ध्वाङ्क्षस्थाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वाङ्क्ष-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्थिते: when situated
• स्थिते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative absolute

• सिंहे: in/at a lion
• सिंहे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• विग्रहः: conflict/quarrel
• विग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ध्वाङ्क्षस्थाने: in the crow’s place
• ध्वाङ्क्षस्थाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वाङ्क्ष-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्थिते: when situated
• स्थिते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative absolute

• श्वाने: in/at a dog
• श्वाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; श्वन्-शब्द (irregular stem)

• गृहभङ्गभयादिकम्: house-breakage, fear, etc.
• गृहभङ्गभयादिकम्: Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह + भङ्ग + भय + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; गृहभङ्गं च भयम् च इत्यादि (समाहारार्थ)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aggressive/impure presences in an inauspicious locus signify ripening of conflict-karma and household vulnerability.

Vedantic Theme: Duḥkha arises from saṃsāric entanglement; cultivate kṣamā (forbearance) and non-reactivity to reduce karmic escalation.

Application: De-escalate disputes, strengthen household safeguards, avoid litigation/feuds, and prioritize reconciliation and prudent security.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: omen-locus near dwelling/roof/tree/cremation-adjacent perches

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.199 (śakuna: animal substitutions in loci and predicted outcomes)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Crow (dhvāṅkṣa)
• Lion (siṃha)
• Dog (śvāna)

FAQs

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

This verse shows that the Purana treats certain unusual animal placements as nimittas—signals of likely near-term outcomes such as conflict, suffering, or domestic instability—used for caution and remedial vigilance.

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

This specific verse is not about the soul’s post-death journey; it belongs to a section on worldly signs/portents, indicating probable events (quarrel, distress, fear of household ruin) inferred from inauspicious sightings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sudden, abnormal disturbances around the home as a prompt for restraint and protection: avoid escalating disputes, strengthen household security and harmony, and adopt calming dharmic conduct to reduce the likelihood of conflict and disruption.