Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

शुनः स्थाने ध्वजं दृष्ट्वा स्थानचिन्तासुखादिकम् / शुनः स्थाने स्थिते धूम्रे कलहं कार्यनाशनम्

Transliteration

śunaḥ sthāne dhvajaṃ dṛṣṭvā sthānacintāsukhādikam / śunaḥ sthāne sthite dhūmre kalahaṃ kāryanāśanam

Translation

Voir une bannière dans le lieu associé au chien annonce réconfort, bien-être et fruits semblables, ainsi que des pensées ou soucis au sujet de la demeure. Mais si, dans ce lieu du chien, se manifeste de la fumée, cela présage querelle et ruine ou échec de l’entreprise.

Word by Word

• śunaḥ: of a dog
• śunaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/genitive), Ekavacana (singular)

• sthāne: in the place
• sthāne: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), Saptamī vibhakti (7th/locative), Ekavacana (singular)

• dhvajam: a flag
• dhvajam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/accusative), Ekavacana (singular)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (त्वान्त/ल्यप्), Pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action), Avyaya-prayoga (indeclinable verbal)

• sthāna-cintā-sukha-ādikam: worry about the place, happiness, etc.
• sthāna-cintā-sukha-ādikam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + cintā (प्रातिपदिक) + sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/accusative), Ekavacana (singular); Samāsa: itaretara-dvandva with ādi-kānta (etc.) sense

• śunaḥ: of a dog
• śunaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/genitive), Ekavacana (singular)

• sthāne: in the place
• sthāne: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), Saptamī vibhakti (7th/locative), Ekavacana (singular)

• sthite: when (it is) situated
• sthite: Adhikaraṇa (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त/क्तवतु sense), Saptamī vibhakti (7th/locative), Ekavacana (singular), Napuṃsaka/puṃsaka agreement by context (locative absolute)

• dhūmre: in/when (it is) smoky/grey
• dhūmre: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhūmra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Saptamī vibhakti (7th/locative), Ekavacana (singular); viśeṣaṇa of an implied noun (e.g., varṇa/cihna)

• kalaham: quarrel
• kalaham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/accusative), Ekavacana (singular)

• kārya-nāśanam: destruction of work/undertaking
• kārya-nāśanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/accusative), Ekavacana (singular); Samāsa: ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (kāryasya nāśanam)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External signs mirror impending results; heed warnings to avert conflict and protect undertakings.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha-karma manifesting as nimitta (omens) within māyā; prudence without fatalism.

Application: If smoke/inauspicious sign appears, postpone risky actions, de-escalate disputes, and secure plans/resources before proceeding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/threshold or courtyard locus used in śakuna-śāstra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.199 (śakuna/nimitta section: animal-place omens)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse treats visible signs in specific locations as indicators of forthcoming outcomes—comfort or domestic concern when a flag is seen, and conflict and loss of efforts when smoke appears—showing how nimitta is used for practical vigilance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it provides worldly nimitta-based guidance, which the Purana often includes alongside afterlife teachings to support dharmic living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat recurring signs of discord (the ‘smoke’ indicator) as a prompt to de-escalate conflict, review plans, and proceed carefully; treat auspicious indicators (the ‘flag’ sign) as encouragement while still acting responsibly.