Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

धूम्रस्थाने गजे दृष्टे राज्यलाभजयादिकम् / धूम्रस्थाने स्थिते ध्वाङ्क्षे धनराज्यविनाशनम्

Transliteration

dhūmrasthāne gaje dṛṣṭe rājyalābhajayādikam / dhūmrasthāne sthite dhvāṅkṣe dhanarājyavināśanam

Translation

ધૂમ્રસ્થાને ગજ દેખાય તો રાજ્યલાભ, જય વગેરે સફળતા સૂચવે છે. પરંતુ ધૂમ્રસ્થાને કાગડો સ્થિર હોય તો ધન અને રાજ્યનો વિનાશ દર્શાવે છે.

Word by Word

• धूम्रस्थाने: in the smoky place/position
• धूम्रस्थाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम्र-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक; धूम्र + स्थान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• गजे: when/where an elephant (is)
• गजे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘दृष्टे’ इति सति सापेक्ष-सप्तमी

• दृष्टे: (being) seen
• दृष्टे: Kriya (Participial predicate/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘सति’ अर्थे (locative absolute sense)

• राज्यलाभजयादिकम्: gain of kingdom, victory, etc.
• राज्यलाभजयादिकम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य-लाभ-जय-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; राज्य + लाभ + जय + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; फलवाचक समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective)

• धूम्रस्थाने: in the smoky place/position
• धूम्रस्थाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम्र-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक; धूम्र + स्थान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• स्थिते: (being) present/standing
• स्थिते: Kriya (Participial predicate/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘सति’ अर्थे (locative absolute)

• ध्वाङ्क्षे: when/where a crow (is)
• ध्वाङ्क्षे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वाङ्क्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative absolute with ‘स्थिते’)

• धनराज्यविनाशनम्: destruction of wealth and kingdom
• धनराज्यविनाशनम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन-राज्य-विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक; धन + राज्य + विनाशन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; फलवाचक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nimitta (omens) as indicators of impending karma-phala affecting sovereignty and wealth.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha-karma manifesting as worldly events; the wise cultivate viveka amid changing fortune.

Application: Treat sudden signs as prompts for caution and preparedness: strengthen governance, avoid rash ventures, and perform protective rites/charity when inauspicious indicators appear.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: liminal/inauspicious site (smoke-filled area; possibly cremation-adjacent or battlefield/settlement smoke)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.199 (nimitta/śakuna-adhyāya context: animal/appearance-based omens for rājya, dhana, jaya)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse shows that specific sights are read as predictive signs: an elephant in a smoky place is treated as auspicious for victory and rulership, while a crow in the same setting is inauspicious, indicating loss.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it teaches nimitta—interpreting signs in the living world that are believed to reflect coming fortune or misfortune.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional lens for reflection: treat auspicious signs as encouragement for right effort, and inauspicious signs as prompts to be cautious, ethical, and prudent with power and wealth.