Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

ध्वजस्थाने गजं दृष्ट्वा स्थानचिन्ताजयादिकम् / ध्वजस्थाने तथा ध्वाङ्क्षे क्लेशचिन्ता धनक्षयः

Transliteration

dhvajasthāne gajaṃ dṛṣṭvā sthānacintājayādikam / dhvajasthāne tathā dhvāṅkṣe kleśacintā dhanakṣayaḥ

Translation

Nếu ở nơi dựng cờ thấy voi, đó là điềm báo những bận tâm về địa vị và các việc như chiến thắng, v.v. Cũng vậy, nếu thấy quạ ở nơi dựng cờ, thì báo trước khổ não, lo nghĩ bất an và hao tổn tiền của.

Word by Word

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

• गजम्: an elephant
• गजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

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

• स्थानचिन्ताजयादिकम्: worry about status, victory, etc.
• स्थानचिन्ताजयादिकम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान-चिन्ता-जय-आदिक (प्रातिपदिक; स्थान + चिन्ता + जय + आदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

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

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

• ध्वाङ्क्षे: (when) a crow (is there/seen)
• ध्वाङ्क्षे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वाङ्क्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• क्लेशचिन्ता: anxiety about trouble
• क्लेशचिन्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्लेश-चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक; क्लेश + चिन्ता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विधेय

• धनक्षयः: loss of wealth
• धनक्षयः: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन-क्षय (प्रातिपदिक; धन + क्षय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (co-predicate)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External nimittas mirror internal and social outcomes—jaya/lābha or kleśa/dhana-kṣaya—arising from karmic conditions.

Vedantic Theme: Worldly success and loss are transient (anitya); discernment (viveka) steadies the mind amid omens.

Application: If signs suggest victory, proceed with disciplined effort; if signs suggest loss, reduce exposure, secure resources, and increase dharmic supports (charity, prayer).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: public-ritual marker (temple/palace/household)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.199 (dhvaja-sthāna śakuna-phalāni)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of seeing an elephant at the dhvaja-sthāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats it as a portent connected to one’s standing and outcomes like victory—suggesting heightened concern about position and the possibility of success in the undertaking.

What does a crow at the flagstaff indicate according to this verse?

A crow seen at the dhvaja-sthāna is said to signal distress, anxious rumination, and financial depletion (dhanakṣaya).

How can this teaching be applied practically today?

Use it as a reminder to proceed with mindfulness: if signs or circumstances suggest instability, strengthen planning, avoid risky spending, and prioritize steady, dharmic action over impulsive decisions.