अन्तरिक्षे च भूमौ च तेऽस्त्यविदितं क्वचित्। यानि राजविनाशाय भौमानि च खगानि च
There is nothing hidden from you, either in the sky or on earth, concerning the omens and portents that bring about the destruction of kings.
निमित्तानीह जायन्ते उत्पाताश्च पृथग्विधाः। एतदित्छामि कार्त्स्न्येन श्रोतुं त्वत्तो महामुने
Various omens and diverse portents arise here; I wish to hear about them all in detail from you, great sage.
इत्येवं मितमान्विप्रः कुरुराजस्य धीमतः। पृच्छतः सर्वमव्यग्रमाचचक्षे महायशाः
Thus, as the wise Kururaja asked, the illustrious sage calmly explained everything without omission.
पराक्रमं च मार्गं च संनिपातं समुच्छ्रयम्। आरोहणं कुरुश्रेष्ठ अन्योन्यं प्रतिसर्पणम्
The wise should examine valor, movement, encounter, rise, ascent, retreat, and mutual withdrawal, O best of Kurus.
पश्मीनां व्यतिसंसर्गं व्यायामं वृत्तिपीडनम्। दर्शनादर्शनं चैव अदृश्यानां च दर्शनम्
They should also observe the mingling of animals, exertion, distress of livelihood, appearance and disappearance, and the sight of the unseen.
हानिं वृद्धिं च ह्रासं च वर्णस्थानं बलाबलम्। सर्वमेतत्परीक्षेत ग्रहाणां ग्रहकोविदः
Loss, gain, decrease, the position of castes, strength and weakness—all this should be examined by one skilled in the knowledge of omens.
भौमाः पूर्वं प्रवर्तन्ते खेचराश्च ततः परम्। उत्पद्यन्ते च लोकेऽस्मिन्नुत्पाता देवनिर्मिताः
Earthly omens appear first, then those in the sky; and in this world, portents created by the gods arise.
यदा तु सर्वभूतानां छाया न परिवर्तते। अपरेण गते सूर्ये तत्पराभवलक्षणम्
When the shadow of all beings does not change after the sun has set, that is a sign of impending destruction.
अच्छाये विमलच्छाया प्रतिच्छायेव दृश्यते। यत्र चैत्यकवृक्षाणां तत्र विद्यान्महद्भयम्
When, in the absence of shadow, a pure shadow appears as if reflected, especially under sacred trees, know that great danger is present.
शीर्णपर्णप्रवालाश्च शुष्कपर्णाश्च चैत्यकाः। अपभ्रष्टप्रवालाश्च तत्राभावं विनिर्दिशेत्
When sacred trees have withered leaves and shoots, or dry leaves, or their shoots have fallen, that indicates destruction.
स्निग्धपर्णप्रवालाश्च दृश्यन्ते यत्र चैत्यकाः। ईहमानाश्च वृक्षाश्च भावस्तत्र न संशयटः
Where trees with tender leaves and shoots are seen, and sacred groves are present, and trees appear to strive, there is undoubtedly a portent.
पुष्पे पुष्पं प्रजायेत फले वा फलमाश्रितम्। राजा वा राजमात्रो वा मरणायोपपद्यते
When a flower produces another flower, or a fruit bears another fruit, or when a king or his minister meets with death, it is an omen.
प्रावृट्छरदि हेमन्ते वसन्ते वापि सर्वशः। आकालिकं पुष्पफलं राष्ट्रक्षोभं विनिर्दिशेत्
If flowers and fruits appear out of season—in the rainy, autumn, winter, or spring—it indicates turmoil in the kingdom.
नदीनां स्त्रोतसोऽकाले द्योतयन्ति महाभयम्। वनस्पतिः पूज्यमानः पूजितोऽपूजितोऽपि वा
When rivers flow abnormally, they signal great danger; whether a tree is honored or not, if it is worshipped, it too is a sign.
यदा भज्येत वातेन भिद्यते नमितोऽपि वा। अग्निवायुभयं विद्याच्छ्रेष्ठो वापि विनश्यति
When a tree is broken by wind, or split or bent, one should recognize the threat of fire and wind; even the best may perish.
दिशः सर्वाश्च दीप्यन्ते जायन्ते राजविभ्रमाः। भिद्यमानो यदा वृक्षो निनदेच्चापि पातितः। सह राष्ट्रं च पतितं नतं वृक्षं प्रपातयेत्
When all directions blaze and royal disturbances arise, if a tree is broken or cries out when felled, the fall of the tree brings down the kingdom with it.
अथैनं छेदयेत्कश्चित्प्रतिक्रुद्धो वनस्पतिः। छेत्ता भेत्ता पतिश्चैव क्षिप्रमेव नशिष्यति
If someone, angered, cuts down a tree, the cutter, the breaker, and the owner will quickly perish.
देवतानां च पतनं मष्टपानां च पातनम्। अचलानां प्रकम्पश्च तत्पराभवलक्षणम्
The fall of deities, the collapse of eight-pillared structures, and the trembling of immovable things are signs of defeat.
निशि चेन्द्रधनुर्दृष्टं ततोपि च महद्भयम्। तद्द्रष्टरेव भीतिः स्यान्नान्येषां भरतर्षभ
If a rainbow is seen at night, it is a great danger; only the one who sees it should fear, not others, O best of Bharatas.
रात्राविन्द्रधनुर्दृष्ट्वा तद्राष्ट्रं परिवर्जयेत्
Upon seeing a rainbow at night, one should avoid that kingdom.
अर्चा यत्र प्रनृत्यन्त नदन्ति च हसन्ति च। उन्मीलन्ति निमीलन्ति राष्ट्रक्षोभं विनिर्दिशेत्
Where images dance, roar, laugh, open and close their eyes, it indicates turmoil in the kingdom.
शिला यदि प्रसिञ्चन्ति स्नेहांश्चोदकसम्भवान्। अन्यद्वा विकृतं किञ्चित्तद्भयस्य निदर्शनम्
If stones ooze oil or water, or anything else appears distorted, it is a sign of danger.
म्रियन्ते वा महामात्रा राजा सपरिवारकः। पुरस्य या भवेद्व्याधी राष्ट्रे देशे च विभ्रमाः
If high officials die, or the king with his family, or if there is disease in the city, or disturbances in the kingdom or region.
देवतानां यदाऽऽवासे राज्ञां वा यत्र वेश्मनि। भाण्डागारायुधागारे निविशेत यदा मधु
When honey appears in the abode of deities, or in the palace of kings, or in the treasury or armory.
सर्वं तदा भवेत्स्थानं हन्यमानं बलीयसा। आगन्तुकं भयं तत्र भवेदित्येव निर्दिशेत्
Then that place will be struck by a powerful force; it is indicated that a foreign danger will occur there.
पादपश्चैव यो यत्र रक्तं स्रवति शोणितम्। दन्ताग्रात्कुञ्जरो वापि शृङ्गाद्वा वृषभस्तथा
Wherever a tree, elephant, or bull sheds blood—from its trunk, tusk, or horn.
पादपाद्राष्ट्रिविभ्रंशः कुञ्जराद्राजविभ्रमः। गोब्राह्मणविनाशः स्याद्वृवभस्येति निर्दिशेत्
The fall of a tree signals the kingdom's collapse; from an elephant, royal disorder; from a bull, destruction of cows and Brahmins.
छत्रं नरपतेर्यत्र निपतेत्पृथिवीतले। सराष्ट्रो नृपती राजन्क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यति
Where the king's umbrella falls to the ground, O king, the ruler and his kingdom will quickly perish.
देवागारेषु वा यत्र राज्ञो वा यत्र वेश्मनि। विकृतं यदि दृश्येत नागावासेषु वा पुनः
Wherever a distortion is seen, whether in the temple of the gods, in the palace of the king, or again in the dwelling of elephants,
तस्य देशस्य पीडा स्याद्राज्ञो जनपदस्य वा। अनावृष्टिभयं घोरमतिदुर्भिक्षमादिशेत्
There will be suffering in that region, either for the king or for the people; one should declare a terrible fear of drought and extreme famine.