Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

धूम्रस्थाने ध्वजं दृष्ट्वा पूर्वं दुः खं ततो धनम् / धूम्रे धूम्रं तथा दृष्ट्वा कलिदुः खादिकं भवेत्

Transliteration

dhūmrasthāne dhvajaṃ dṛṣṭvā pūrvaṃ duḥ khaṃ tato dhanam / dhūmre dhūmraṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā kaliduḥ khādikaṃ bhavet

Translation

ధూమ్రస్థానంలో ధ్వజాన్ని చూచినచో ముందుగా దుఃఖం, తరువాత ధనం కలుగును. ధూమ్రంలో ధూమ్రమే మరల చూచినచో కలియుగ దుఃఖములు మొదలైనవి కలుగును.

Word by Word

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

• ध्वजम्: a flag
• ध्वजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

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

• पूर्वम्: first; earlier
• पूर्वम्: Sambandha (Temporal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequential/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• धूम्रे: in/at the smoke(-sign)
• धूम्रे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• धूम्रम्: smoke; a smoky sign
• धूम्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

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

• कलिदुःखादिकम्: Kali(-age) misery etc.
• कलिदुःखादिकम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि-दुःख-आदिक (प्रातिपदिक; कलि + दुःख + आदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

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

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mixed karmic fruition: duḥkha precedes sukha; intensified obscuration (smoke on smoke) signals collective decline akin to Kali’s duḥkha.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-vikṣepa and moha (obscuration) disturb clarity; steadiness and sattva-cultivation mitigate Kali-like turbulence.

Application: When outcomes appear mixed, endure initial hardship with patience; if signs indicate escalating disorder, simplify life, strengthen ethics, and seek protective spiritual routines.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: liminal/atmospheric zone (smoke-filled area near hearth/cremation/ritual fire or battlefield haze)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.199 (dhūmra-sthāna nimitta-phalāni; Kali-duḥkha mention)

Characters & Entities

• Kali (Kali Yuga)

FAQs

What is the importance of omens like smoke and flags in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats such sights as nimitta (portents): a flag seen amid smoke indicates an initial period of distress followed by gain, while repeated smoke signifies a broader rise of discord and misery associated with Kali-like conditions.

How does this verse relate to Kali Yuga suffering?

By stating that “smoke upon smoke” leads to “Kali-duḥkha,” the verse links compounded obscuration/confusion (symbolized by thickening smoke) with the characteristic troubles of Kali—distress, instability, and decline in well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat recurring warning signs as prompts for caution: reduce avoidable risks, strengthen dharmic conduct, and prioritize clarity (satya, sobriety, careful decisions) when circumstances feel increasingly “smoky” or confusing.