Shloka 41

Devanagari script

गजाश्वरथधान्यानां गवाञ्चैव रजः शुभम् / अशुभं च विजानीयात्खरोष्ट्रजाविकेषु च

Transliteration

gajāśvarathadhānyānāṃ gavāñcaiva rajaḥ śubham / aśubhaṃ ca vijānīyātkharoṣṭrajāvikeṣu ca

Translation

Dust associated with elephants, horses, chariots, grains, and cows should be understood as auspicious; but in the case of donkeys, camels, and goats/sheep, it should be known as inauspicious.

Word by Word

• गज-अश्व-रथ-धान्यानाम्: of elephants, horses, chariots, and grains
• गज-अश्व-रथ-धान्यानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व ‘elephants, horses, chariots, and grains’

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• रजः: dust
• रजः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative adjective)

• अशुभम्: inauspicious
• अशुभम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• विजानीयात्: should know/discern
• विजानीयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) उपसर्ग: वि-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• खर-उष्ट्र-जाविकेषु: among donkeys, camels, and jāvika-animals
• खर-उष्ट्र-जाविकेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक) + उष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक) + जाविक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (itaretara) ‘donkeys, camels, and sheep/goats (jāvika)’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śubha-aśubha nimitta via ‘rajas’ associated with certain animals/vehicles and staples; auspiciousness tied to prosperity-bearing beings (go, dhānya) and royal conveyance.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-oriented life is supported by symbols of nourishment and dharma (go, dhānya); tamasic associations are to be avoided.

Application: In omen-reading or ritual purity contexts, treat contact with dust from cows/grains etc. as favorable; avoid dust from animals culturally marked as impure/low-status in the text.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: roads/fields/market-processions

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.42-43 (dust as sin-destroying vs sin-causing)

FAQs

What is the importance of śubha and aśubha omens in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows the text’s practical dharma approach: everyday signs (like dust associated with certain animals or activities) are categorized as auspicious or inauspicious to guide timely, prudent action.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it belongs to the conduct/omens material, teaching how to read signs in worldly life as part of living with awareness and dharmic discernment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a traditional framework for situational awareness: interpret signals around you cautiously, avoid impulsive decisions when circumstances feel unfavorable, and proceed with confidence when conditions are supportive—while keeping ethics central.