Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

धूम्रस्थाने गजे दृष्टे राज्यलाभजयादिकम् / धूम्रस्थाने स्थिते ध्वाङ्क्षे धनराज्यविनाशनम्

Transliteration

dhūmrasthāne gaje dṛṣṭe rājyalābhajayādikam / dhūmrasthāne sthite dhvāṅkṣe dhanarājyavināśanam

Translation

دھواں بھرے مقام پر ہاتھی دکھائی دے تو سلطنت کا حصول، فتح اور دیگر کامیابیاں ظاہر ہوتی ہیں۔ مگر اسی مقام پر کوا ٹھہرے تو مال و دولت اور اقتدار کے زوال کی علامت ہے۔

Word by Word

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

• गजे: when/where an elephant (is)
• गजे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘दृष्टे’ इति सति सापेक्ष-सप्तमी

• दृष्टे: (being) seen
• दृष्टे: Kriya (Participial predicate/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘सति’ अर्थे (locative absolute sense)

• राज्यलाभजयादिकम्: gain of kingdom, victory, etc.
• राज्यलाभजयादिकम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य-लाभ-जय-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; राज्य + लाभ + जय + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; फलवाचक समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective)

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

• स्थिते: (being) present/standing
• स्थिते: Kriya (Participial predicate/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘सति’ अर्थे (locative absolute)

• ध्वाङ्क्षे: when/where a crow (is)
• ध्वाङ्क्षे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वाङ्क्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative absolute with ‘स्थिते’)

• धनराज्यविनाशनम्: destruction of wealth and kingdom
• धनराज्यविनाशनम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन-राज्य-विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक; धन + राज्य + विनाशन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; फलवाचक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nimitta (omens) as indicators of impending karma-phala affecting sovereignty and wealth.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha-karma manifesting as worldly events; the wise cultivate viveka amid changing fortune.

Application: Treat sudden signs as prompts for caution and preparedness: strengthen governance, avoid rash ventures, and perform protective rites/charity when inauspicious indicators appear.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: liminal/inauspicious site (smoke-filled area; possibly cremation-adjacent or battlefield/settlement smoke)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.199 (nimitta/śakuna-adhyāya context: animal/appearance-based omens for rājya, dhana, jaya)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse shows that specific sights are read as predictive signs: an elephant in a smoky place is treated as auspicious for victory and rulership, while a crow in the same setting is inauspicious, indicating loss.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it teaches nimitta—interpreting signs in the living world that are believed to reflect coming fortune or misfortune.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional lens for reflection: treat auspicious signs as encouragement for right effort, and inauspicious signs as prompts to be cautious, ethical, and prudent with power and wealth.