Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

वृषस्थाने गजं दृष्ट्वा स्त्रीगजादिसमागमः / वृषस्थाने स्थिते ध्वाङ्क्षे स्थानमानसमागमः

Transliteration

vṛṣasthāne gajaṃ dṛṣṭvā strīgajādisamāgamaḥ / vṛṣasthāne sthite dhvāṅkṣe sthānamānasamāgamaḥ

Translation

Voir un éléphant dans le lieu du Taureau (Vṛṣabha) indique une rencontre ou une union avec une éléphante et autres choses semblables. Si, dans le lieu du Taureau, un corbeau est posé, cela annonce une rencontre attachée à ce lieu, survenant dans l’esprit, par la pensée ou l’intention.

Word by Word

• वृषस्थाने: in Taurus-place
• वृषस्थाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• गजम्: an elephant
• गजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• स्त्रीगजादिसमागमः: meeting/association with women, elephants, etc.
• स्त्रीगजादिसमागमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री-गज-आदि-समागम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः (स्त्रीगजादीनां समागमः)

• वृषस्थाने: in Taurus-place
• वृषस्थाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्थिते: when situated
• स्थिते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ध्वाङ्क्षे: in/with the crow
• ध्वाङ्क्षे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वाङ्क्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्थानमानसमागमः: meeting with (one's) place and mind; reunion/encounter affecting place and mind
• स्थानमानसमागमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान-मानस-समागम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (स्थानं च मानसं च—समागमः)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nimitta as a mirror of forthcoming saṃyoga (encounters): gross signs (gaja) indicate tangible unions; subtle signs (dhvāṅkṣa/crow) indicate fixed-place or mind-mediated meetings.

Vedantic Theme: Mind (manas) as a field where saṃskāra ripens into intention and experience; outer signs correspond to inner tendencies in the empirical domain.

Application: Treat such omens as prompts for mindful conduct: anticipate meetings/alliances; verify intentions; avoid impulsive attachment; use discernment when ‘mental meetings’ (plans, messages, fixation on a place/person) arise.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: zodiacal sign (rashi) / omen-locus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.199 (continuation of rashi-sthāna animal omens)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse treats specific sights/signs as predictors of outcomes, showing that the Garuda Purana preserves nimitta-based guidance for interpreting events and intentions in daily life.

How does this verse explain the role of the mind in outcomes?

By stating that a crow in the Taurus-place indicates a ‘place-and-mind’ meeting, it links external signs with internal intention—suggesting that mental inclination can shape or foreshadow encounters.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reflective tool: when strong signs or symbols recur, examine your intentions and circumstances before acting, and align choices with dharma rather than impulse.