The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s5.702

c2.s5.702

∗ The prodigies of beast and bird occur frequently, and several passages strengthen that quoted above: pradakṣiṇā mṛgāḥ . . jayaliṅgam; apasavyā mṛgāḥ (and) vācaḥ . . acarīriṇyaḥ . . parābhavalakṣaṇam, v. 143. 14 ff. Compare the evil birds on the right (apasavyāḥ), giving fear, in iv. 46. 27; in iii. 269. 7, a jackal coming up to the left side (vāmam upetya pārçvam) is an evil omen; in iii. 179. 4 ff., the bad omens are beasts on the right (apasavyāḥ); carrion birds behind crying yāhi (‘go on’); the right arm twitching, the left leg and arm twitching; in v. 138. 21 ff., the meteorological omens: compare end of ib. 158; vi. 2 to 4 (note here, 3. 43, vāyasāç ca ruvanty ugram vāmam maṇḍalam āçritāḥ). The drums, etc., of our passage, anāhatā nadanti paṭahāḥ (v. 143. 20); ‘hating a priest,’ ib. 27. Compare further ii. 71. 22–24 (jackals, asses, and birds as omens); ii. 46. 8 (the three kinds of omens, utpātās trividhāḥ). The bloody heaps attracting the ravenous, vi. 117. 57; vii. 7. 36 ff.). The Çānti, teeming with supernatural wisdom, gives (in 105. 24, auṣadhiyoga is a foe-killing ‘application of poison’) in 102. 6 ff. late notes on prognostication. Winds following an army, rainbows, rain in the rear, sunlight, and even jackals and hawks, if they are favorable in appearance (anukūla), ensure success; certain smells and sounds also portend victory. The position is plainly relative, as seen in the following: ‘when nice animals are in the rear and on the left during a march, and on the right while the army enters battle, they announce victory; those in front prevent it.’ The following birds are lucky: çakuna, haṁsa, krāuñca, cāṣa; the general rule reads (15) iṣṭo vāmaḥ praviṣṭasya dakṣiṇaḥ pravivikṣataḥ, paçcāt saṁsādhayaty artham purastāc ca niṣedhati. In R. compare anuvāti çubho vāyuḥ, v. 73. 52, and other omens following; birds, in ib. vi. 11 ff.; and all of R. vi. 83.