Brihadyatra 23: adhyāyaḥ 23

Chapter 23: Auspicious and Inauspicious Omens

Whatever good or evil karma was performed by men in another lifetime,

the bird omen reveals its fruition to those who are setting forth.

Whether domestic, wild, aquatic, terrestrial, aerial, diurnal, nocturnal, or moving in both,

they are to be comprehended as male, female, or hermaphrodite through their cries, movements, gazes, and utterances.

Since they do not remain in separate species, their clear distinction is not readily obtained.

On the statement of general characteristics, these two verses were composed by a seer:

"Those with stout, elevated, long limbs, thick necks, and broad chests,

brief and deep cries, and firm strides, are males.

Those with slender necks, heads, and muzzles, and subtle mouths, feet, and strides,

speaking clearly and softly, are females; anything other than this is a hermaphrodite."

One should observe their domestic or wild movements and the like directly from common knowledge.

Wishing to be concise, I declare what is required only for a military expedition:

On a road, [one interprets the omen] with reference to oneself; in an army, to the king; and in a city, to the presiding deity;

in a caravan, to the leader; but when all are equal, to the one superior in caste, learning, or age.

In the directions that the sun has left, has reached, and will approach, the result corresponds [to the past, present, and future];

and these directions are called blazing with embers, blazing, and smoking; the others beyond them are peaceful.

One should declare a result corresponding to the three times as equal for the fifth directions from them;

the auspicious and inauspicious [result] for the remaining directions should be stated according to proximity;

[it occurs] swiftly through those standing near or in low places, and after a long time through those perched high or far away.

And in the same way, the wise [astrologer] should declare the fruit according to the prosperity or affliction of the places.

[An omen] is inflamed by fate in an increasing manner by moment, lunar day, asterism, wind, and the sun;

and it is inflamed by action through its movements, stance, disposition, voice, and bodily gestures.

In this tenfold way it is tranquil; also, the gentle [creature] is an eater of grass and fruit;

an eater of meat and impurity is fierce; an eater of cooked food is considered mixed.

[Creatures] standing in mansions, palaces, auspicious, and charming places,

and on trees that have sweet sap, milk, fruit, and flowers, are best.

[Creatures] are strong at their own proper time, dwelling on mountains or in water, and moving by day or by night;

moreover, neuter, female, and male are strong in increasing order.

They are endowed with strength through speed, genus, bodily strength, location, excitement, and vital essence;

and in their own native ground and [moving] in a favourable direction; those lacking these are to be avoided.

The rooster, elephant, chirillī bird, peacock, vañjula, chikkara,

the lion's roar, and the kūṭapūrī bird are strong in the east.

The jackal, owl, green pigeon, crow, ruddy goose, bear, spotted owlet,

the dove, weeping, lamentation, and cruel sounds [are strong] in the south.

The cow, hare, curlew, fox, swan, osprey, francolin partridge,

the cat, festival musical instruments, singing, and laughter belong to the west.

The woodpecker, antelope, rat, deer, solid-hoofed animal, cuckoo,

blue jay, porcupine, and the sounds of benediction, bells, and conches are in the north.

A village [creature] found in the wilderness is not to be accepted, nor a wilderness [creature] residing in a village;

nor a day-roamer by night, nor a night-roamer by day.

Those mating, afflicted by disease, frightened, quarrelling, or desiring meat,

separated by a river, or intoxicated—such birds and beasts are never to be accepted [as valid omens].

The red deer, horse, goat, donkey, antelope, camel, deer, and hares

are to be known as fruitless in the cold season; the crow and cuckoo in the spring.

Boars and wolves etc. are not to be taken [as omens] in Bhādrapada;

in autumn, water-birds, cows, and curlews; in Śrāvaṇa, the elephant and the cātaka bird.

Tigers, bears, monkeys, leopards, buffaloes, together with burrow-dwellers,

and all the young of non-human animals, are to be known as fruitless in the winter.

Situated in three sub-divisions between the eastern and southeastern directions,

in clockwise order, are the treasurer, one living by fire, and one engaged in asceticism.

An artisan, a mendicant monk, and an unclothed woman [reside] between the southern and southeastern directions;

and beyond them are an outcaste, a cowherd, and one devoted to righteousness.

Between the southwestern and western directions are young women, a woman in childbirth, and thieves;

a spear-bearer, a bird-catcher, and a violent person [are] between the northwestern and western directions.

Beyond that are a poison-destroyer, a cattle-owner, and one versed in jugglery;

beyond that, a wealthy man, a diviner, and a garland-maker;

a Vaiṣṇava, a wandering mendicant, and one devoted to protecting horses.

Thus the thirty-two divisions have been declared along with the cardinal directions, beginning with the east.

The king, prince, commander, messenger, guild-head, spy, twice-born man,

and master of the elephants belong to the [eight directions] starting from the east, and the four castes to the four cardinal directions.

For a person walking or standing, in whichever direction

a bird cries, an encounter with the person belonging to that direction should be declared.

Cracked, terrible, plaintive, pained, harsh, impatient, and broken

voices are undesirable; voices that are calm, delighted, full, and natural are auspicious.

The female jackal, female śyāmā bird, aralā bird, musk-rat, spotted owlet, house lizard,

sow, cuckoo, and those with male names are [favourable] on the left.

Those with feminine names, the bhāsa vulture, dog, monkey, śrīkarṇa bird, chittikāra bird,

peacock, śrīkaṇṭha bird, pippīkā bird, ruru deer, and hawks are [favourable] on the right.

War-cries, clapping of arms, benedictions, songs, sounds of conches and water,

together with musical instruments and Vedic chanting, [behave] like males; other voices are auspicious like females.

The rustic madhyama and ṣaḍja notes, and gāndhāra, are beneficial;

the notes ṣaḍja, madhyama, gāndhāra, and ṛṣabha are auspicious.

The bhāradvāja lark, goat, and peacock are [auspicious] when heard, mentioned, or seen;

the mongoose and the blue jay are auspicious, while a lizard ahead brings misfortune.

The mere naming of the hedgehog, snake, hare, boar, and iguana is auspicious;

their cries and sight are undesirable; the reverse is true for the monkey and the bear.

In odd numbers, deer together with mongooses and birds are praised when going to the right;

Bhṛgu said that the blue jay, along with the mongoose, is [favourable] on the left in the afternoon.

The chikkara, kūṭapūrī, and pirilī are [favourable] on the right during the daytime.

Tusked animals and hole-dwelling creatures are always auspicious on the right.

A horse and white [objects] are best in the east, and a corpse and meat in the south;

Roots, fruits, and curds in the west; cows, Brahmins, and holy men in the north.

A snare and dogs' feet are inauspicious in the east; weapons and killers in the south;

Liquor and eunuchs in the west; threshing-floors, seats, and plows in the north.

In undertakings, alliances, and battles, upon entering, and when searching for lost property,

[omens] should be accepted as contrary to [those for] a march, and the particular distinction here is stated:

During the day, antelopes, ruru-deer, and monkeys should be accepted as [signaling] departure,

And in the first part of the day, blue jays, vañjula-birds, and cocks [should be so taken];

In the last part of the night, naptṛkas, owls, and spotted owlets [should be accepted].

All of them are to be taken in reverse when among caravans of women.

When visiting a king, as well as on entering, they should be taken just as on a march.

And upon entering mountains and forests, and when wading into rivers,

Those that are auspicious when moving on the left or the right, however, if they stand in front or behind,

And are blighted in act, are called an iron bar and cause destruction for the traveler.

Those very two, however, situated in their respective directions, peaceful in cry and behavior,

Are called bird-gate omens and bring about attainment of goals.

Some, however, maintain that a bird-gate is formed by birds of a single species

Stationed on both sides, having peaceful behavior and cries.

If one dismisses and another forbids,

That conflict is inauspicious for the traveler, or whichever is stronger should be accepted.

If it first becomes an omen of entering and then becomes an omen of departing,

It indicates success with ease; upon entering, it is [so] from the reverse.

If a bird, having first dismissed, then itself checks [the march],

It portends death for the traveler's enemy, battle, and disease.

Blighted birds on the right, however, announce danger.

A bird blighted at the start of an enterprise causes fear until the end of the year.

[Birds] blighted by lunar day, wind, the sun, asterism, place, or action, respectively,

Produce danger to wealth, army, strength, body, desired objects, and undertakings.

When they are blighted by cloud-sounds, there is danger from wind.

[Birds] blighted at both twilights cause danger arising from weapons.

Stationed on funeral pyres, hair, or skulls, they bring death, imprisonment, and execution.

Stationed on thorny trees, firewood, or ashes, they cause quarrel, distress, and misery.

Blighted birds perched on sapless trees or rocks cause failure or fear,

While peaceful ones yield tolerable results.

Those discharging and eating are to be known as bestowing respectively failure and success.

If it departs crying from its perch, it indicates a military expedition; otherwise, return.

When blighted in voice, there is quarrel; when blighted in location, hostility.

Producing a loud sound first and then a soft one, it causes harm.

A blighted [bird] crying in one place causes destruction of a village within seven days;

And of a city, a country, and kings within a season, half a year, and a full year [respectively].

All creatures that feed on the flesh of their own kind cause famine,

Except snakes, mice, cats, and fish.

Those engaging in copulation with different species cause destruction of the country,

Except for the generation of mules or the unnatural copulation of men.

There will be imprisonment, striking, and killing by [omens] moving to the feet, thighs, and head [respectively].

By eating water, grain, meat, and cooked food, [they cause] loss of comrades, plundering, wounds, and capture.

A desired object or dairy food [is gained] upon the sighting of a Bhāradvāja lark.

When a blue jay has a full mouth on the right side, there is great gain.

The francolin partridge is best moving to the left, right, or in front;

The partridge is best behind, and censured anywhere else.

A bellowing bull going in the proper direction is fortunate, and likewise a cow and a buffalo.

A donkey standing right facing the chest serves to prohibit departure.

A female owl is auspicious on the left, and a female cuckoo on the right;

And the [...] and peacock are always commended on the right.

Wolves, jackals, tigers, cats, donkeys, and dogs

Are to be known as bringing wealth on the left, and antelopes on the right.

An empty pot facing properly and one seeking water are auspicious for one desiring to march,

Especially for those engaged in thievery, knowledge, trade, and wealth.