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

വൃഷസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ ആനയെ കണ്ടാൽ പെൺആന മുതലായവയുമായി സംഗമം സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്നു; വൃഷത്തിൽ കാക്ക നിലകൊള്ളുമ്പോൾ സ്ഥലനിശ്ചിതമായ, മനസ്സിൽ സംഭവിക്കുന്ന സംഗമം എന്നു പറയുന്നു।

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.