The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s5.699

c2.s5.699

Supernatural also are prognostications. Portents and signs of earth and sky are usually powerful. But often no attention is paid to them. More care is shown for the signs of flying birds, etc., than for earthquake and falling meteors. The positions of wild animals and the acts of any animal are prognostic. The ass’s bray is ill-omened. ‘The people say it is a sign of defeat if, having eaten little, excrements abound; but let wild deer appear on the left hand, let the horses appear cheerful: that is a sign of victory. Should deer appear coming from the left (on the right), and incorporeal voices be heard, that is a sign of defeat.’ So certain kinds of birds augur defeat or victory. The peacock, swan, floater, cātaka, are auspicious; but birds of prey, as hawks, herons, cranes; and beasts of prey, as wolves; and flies, and ghosts (yātudhāna), imply defeat. ‘Drums sound unbeaten’ in the army about to conquer; in the other, all is silence but for ‘sounds like springs of water, roaring like bulls.’ There comes a pure Hindu token to these pan-Aryan signs: ‘and it is also a token of defeat if one hates a priest.’