Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

शुनः स्थाने वृषं दृष्ट्वा रोगी रोगाद्वि मुच्यते / शुनः स्थाने खरं दृष्ट्वा कलहस्य भयं भवेत्

Transliteration

śunaḥ sthāne vṛṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā rogī rogādvi mucyate / śunaḥ sthāne kharaṃ dṛṣṭvā kalahasya bhayaṃ bhavet

Translation

犬の場所で牡牛を見れば、病人は病より解き放たれる。だが犬の場所で驢馬を見れば、争いと衝突への恐れが生じる。

Word by Word

• śunaḥ: of a dog
• śunaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• sthāne: in the place
• sthāne: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• vṛṣam: a bull
• vṛṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (त्वान्त), pūrvakāla-kriyā

• rogī: a sick person
• rogī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rogāt: from disease
• rogāt: Apādāna (Source/Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: roga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī (5th/ablative), Ekavacana

• vi: apart, away (intensive/separative)
• vi: Upasarga (Preverb/उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi (उपसर्ग/avyaya)
• Form: Upasarga (preverb) used with verb mucyate

• mucyate: is freed
• mucyate: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada; passive/intransitive sense ‘is freed’

• śunaḥ: of a dog
• śunaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• sthāne: in the place
• sthāne: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• kharam: a donkey
• kharam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (त्वान्त), pūrvakāla-kriyā

• kalahasya: of quarrel
• kalahasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bhavet: may occur / would be
• bhavet: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious signs correlate with alleviation of suffering; inauspicious signs warn of social discord.

Vedantic Theme: Duḥkha-sukha alternation within saṃsāra; nimitta as a prompt for mindful action rather than attachment.

Application: When favorable signs appear, continue treatment and gratitude; when unfavorable signs appear, avoid arguments, mediate early, and reduce triggers.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/omen-locus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.199 (omens tied to health and quarrel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse shows how everyday signs—especially animal sightings in specific contexts—are used to infer likely outcomes such as recovery from illness or the rise of conflict.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it belongs to the śakuna-phala material that guides worldly decision-making by reading auspicious and inauspicious indicators.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a traditional caution: interpret environments and patterns thoughtfully—seek healing support when signs are favorable, and practice restraint and calm speech when circumstances suggest conflict.