Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

ध्वजो धूमो ऽथ सिंहश्च श्वा वृषः खरदन्तिनौ / ध्वाङ्क्षश्च अष्टमो ज्ञेयो नाम मन्त्रैश्च तान्न्यसेत्

Transliteration

dhvajo dhūmo 'tha siṃhaśca śvā vṛṣaḥ kharadantinau / dhvāṅkṣaśca aṣṭamo jñeyo nāma mantraiśca tānnyaset

Translation

ధ్వజము, ధూమము, సింహము, శ్వానము, వృషభము, ఖరము మరియు దంతి-రూపము, అలాగే ఎనిమిదవది ధ్వాంక్షము (కాకి)—ఇవి క్రమంగా తెలిసికొనవలెను; వీటిని నామమంత్రాలతో న్యాసం/ఆహ్వానం చేయవలెను।

Word by Word

• ध्वजः: banner
• ध्वजः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धूमः: smoke
• धूमः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अनन्तरार्थे

• सिंहः: lion
• सिंहः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• श्वा: dog
• श्वा: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विशेष-प्रातिपदिक ‘श्वन्’ → ‘श्वा’)

• वृषः: bull
• वृषः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• खरदन्तिनौ: the two: ‘khar(a)’ and ‘dantin’ (donkey/elephant-like)
• खरदन्तिनौ: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक) + दन्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय (खरः दन्ती = ‘donkey-toothed/with harsh teeth’); द्विवचनं—द्वौ चिन्हौ/द्वे मूर्त्यौ

• ध्वाङ्क्षः: crow
• ध्वाङ्क्षः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वाङ्क्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• अष्टमः: the eighth
• अष्टमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• ज्ञेयः: is to be known
• ज्ञेयः: Vidhi/Predicate (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; विधेय (to be known)

• नाम: namely
• नाम: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), नामार्थे/उपपद (quotative/emphatic)

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

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

• तान्: those (signs)
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्/न्यस् (धातु; √अस् ‘to place’ with उपसर्ग ‘नि-’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग ‘नि-’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nāma-mantra and nyāsa: naming as a means of invoking and fixing power into loci/forms.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as śakti within ritual convention; disciplined action channels mind and meaning into form.

Application: If practicing mantra/nyāsa traditions, keep exact sequence and pronunciation; treat symbolic lists as operational, not merely descriptive.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/yantra-nyasa context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: mantra efficacy and ritual prescriptions (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of name-mantras (nāma-mantra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that specific forms or symbols are ritually invoked by reciting their names as mantras, indicating a structured method of nyāsa/invocation for protection and correct ritual sequencing.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana rites connected with death and the afterlife?

Garuda Purana frequently links mantras and ritual placements (nyāsa) with safeguarding the departed and guiding subtle transitions; this verse gives a defined set of invoked forms, suggesting a protective or preparatory ritual framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following traditional practice, recite and apply mantras in the prescribed order under guidance; ethically, it teaches disciplined, step-by-step observance rather than improvisation in sacred rites.