Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

ध्वजस्थाने वृषं दृष्ट्वा स्थानचिन्ता च लाभकम् / ध्वजस्थाने खरं दृष्ट्वा दुः खक्लेशादिकं भवेत्

Transliteration

dhvajasthāne vṛṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā sthānacintā ca lābhakam / dhvajasthāne kharaṃ dṛṣṭvā duḥ khakleśādikaṃ bhavet

Translation

Ver um touro no lugar do estandarte é tido como sinal de ganhos e de pensamentos voltados a assegurar um lugar ou posição adequada. Porém, ver um jumento no lugar do estandarte torna-se presságio de tristeza, penúria e aflições correlatas.

Word by Word

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

• वृषम्: a bull
• वृषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having seen’

• स्थानचिन्ता: worry about one’s place/status
• स्थानचिन्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान-चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक; स्थान + चिन्ता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विधेय (predicate-noun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• लाभकम्: gainful; bringing profit
• लाभकम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लाभक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicate adjective)

• ध्वजस्थाने: in the flag-position/place
• ध्वजस्थाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक; ध्वज + स्थान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• खरम्: a donkey
• खरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• दुःखक्लेशादिकम्: sorrow, distress, etc.
• दुःखक्लेशादिकम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख-क्लेश-आदिक (प्रातिपदिक; दुःख + क्लेश + आदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate-noun)

• भवेत्: would occur; would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating omens to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nimitta (omens) indicate forthcoming sukha/duḥkha as karmic ripening; prudent action follows observation.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha-karma manifests as experiential outcomes; the wise remain vigilant yet inwardly steady.

Application: Treat auspicious signs as encouragement for planned efforts; treat inauspicious signs as a cue for caution, restraint, and remedial dharma (prayer, charity, self-control).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-public marker (temple/royal/household threshold)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.199 (nimitta/śakuna-phalāni around dhvaja and dhūmra-sthāna)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse shows that external signs are read as indicators of coming outcomes—some suggesting gain and stability (bull), others warning of distress and obstacles (donkey).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or karmic results?

Though framed as an omen-reading, it reflects the Purana’s broader principle that experiences of ease or suffering manifest through signs and circumstances aligned with one’s karmic trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat favorable signs as encouragement for disciplined action, and treat unfavorable signs as a prompt for caution, ethical conduct, and remedial steadiness rather than fear.