Brihadyatra 25: adhyāyaḥ 25

Chapter 25: The Movements of the Crow

A nest in Vaiśākha is auspicious on an unmolested tree;

However, [a nest] on an anthill, a funeral monument, a granary, and the like brings upheaval to the land.

For crows in Śrāvaṇa, two, three, or four chicks bring good fortune;

Red-ochre, white, or variegated colors bring thieves, fire, and death.

When crows scatter their eggs, both famine and pestilence [occur];

Or when the chicks are defective, or if [the nest] is made chickless.

Whatever article the crow takes away or brings forward,

The loss or gain of that should be known; if gold or yellow, one should predict [wealth].

Placing a red object or a burnt one in a house, it is remembered as giving fire;

And [placing] grass, ashes, bones, or hair on a bed, it brings death to the master.

[Flying] agitated in the sky above a town or an army, there is danger from wind;

Moving in a clockwise circle, it brings success to one's own side; anticlockwise, success arising for the enemy;

Accompanying an unpropitious creature, disunion; stationed in the shape of a circle, a siege;

Moving in flocks, an attack; and fearless, growth of the enemy.

When striking the shadow of a shoe, parasol, vehicle, limb, or weapon,

One should declare death to its owner; honor would arise from [its] worshipping it.

Cawing while carrying wood, rope, bone, chaff, hair, or thorns,

It causes fear from wild beasts, snakes, disease, weapons, fire, and thieves.

Stationed on the limbs of an army, it indicates battle; scratching itself, it causes robbery;

Wandering by night, it brings destruction; robbing grain, it brings famine.

Stationed on the left side, it is auspicious, or moving from the right to the left;

A crow is also praised on both flanks, moving along with the military expedition.

Level with the traveler's ear, a crow brings security, but does not accomplish wealth;

Going from left to right is undesirable, or level [and] moving against [the traveler].

Cawing ahead and flapping its wings, the crow causes fear;

So it would be when advancing directly against the chest and touching it.

[Standing on] one foot, with fluttering wings, a crow signifies an unexpected attack and a skirmish;

Cawing while mounted on the back of a donkey or a boar, it causes slaughter and captivity.

Stationed atop a boar whose body is smeared with mud,

A crow is praised for the traveler, whether silent or even cawing.

Stationed on a milk-tree, a goat, a buffalo-cow, or a cow, it gives milk-products;

Tearing a leaf, it gives food; from striking water, it gives drink.