O best of listeners, hear now the reverent wisdom of omens, as spoken in the ancient tradition. When the rising of a constellation, a planet, or similar celestial sign appears under harsh conditions, it is known as a bright omen—a sign sparkling with significance. If, as the sun is about to move, the omen appears shrouded or smoky, it is to be recognized as such. When the omen is manifest and present, it is called blazing; when it has been released, it is considered fiery. These three—bright, blazing, and fiery—are remembered among the bright omens, and five others are known as peaceful omens. If a bright omen appears in a particular direction, it is called a directional omen. When such an omen is found in a village, a forest, or wilderness, or even on a condemned tree, it is known as a domestic omen. Should the bright omen occur in an inauspicious place, it is called a place-bright omen. When a ritual is performed that is improper for one’s own kind, the omen that arises is called a ritual-bright omen. A sound-bright omen is described as a discordant, terrifying cry, while a species-bright omen is recognized when it comes solely from meat-eating creatures. From a bright omen, a peaceful result is determined, considering all distinctions carefully. When omens are mixed, their results are also declared as mixed, and the outcome—good or bad—must be spoken. Know, O wise one, the dwellers of villages: cows, horses, camels, donkeys, dogs, starlings, house lizards, sparrows, cranes, turtles, and others. Cats and chickens are domestic, yet they may also roam the wild, and their recognition depends on differences in form. Among the creatures, there are those with cattle-like ears, peacocks, chakras, donkeys, parrots, crows, kulaha birds, kukubha, hawks, pheruka, anjana, and monkeys. There are also shataghnas, sparrows, blackbirds, crows, hawks, francolins, partridges, butterflies, and three kinds of pigeons. The khanjarita, dātyūha, wild boar, jīva-kukkuṭa, bhāradvāja, and sāraṅga are known as day-roaming creatures, while vāguryu, owls, sharabha, cranes, hares, turtles, hairy ones, and reddish ones are described as night-roaming. Swans, deer, cats, mongooses, bears, snakes, wolves, lions, tigers, camels, village boars, and humans are also to be considered. Hunting dogs, bulls, jackals, wolves, cuckoos, cranes, horses, kaupīna-men, and lizards roam both day and night. All those who move in groups at the front during a march are designated as leaders, while those who carry burdens are declared to bring death from behind. When a crow emerges from the house and cries out while standing in front, it foretells either insult to the king or strife at a meal, especially if it is on the left. If a crow is seen from a vehicle, whether on the left or right, its presence is auspicious. However, if a peacock cries out in a discordant voice, it reveals the threat of theft by robbers. O Rāma, when one sets out and a deer appears ahead, it is a sign of impending death, as are the appearances of bears, boars, jackals, tigers, lions, cats, and donkeys in the same circumstance. Similarly, if the pratiloma (reverse) bird, the harsh-voiced khara, the left-sided kapiñjala, or the best one situated on the right are seen, their significance must be understood. The tittiri bird, whose fruit is condemned, is not praised when seen from behind; but the ena, varāha, and pṛṣata, if coming first from the left and then the right, are considered auspicious. Birds approaching first from the right and then the left bring the desired results. Auspicious among them are the śyāmā, nācchū, śūh, piṅgalā, and the house lizard. The female pig, parapuṣṭā, punnāmāna, and those coming from the left, as well as those named after women—bhāsa, kārūṣa, kapiśrī, karṇacchit—are also included. The kapiśrī, karṇa, pipyīkā, ruru, and ena are auspicious when coming from the right, as are the ox, snake, hare, boar, and lizard. Therefore, the sight of a monkey or bear coming from the opposite direction is not desired; but a bird that follows daily is effective for one who is setting out. The result for that person should be declared for that very day by the wise. Birds that are intoxicated, seeking food, young, or attached to enmity are also to be considered in this way. If a bird enters the boundary and stays inside, O twice-born, it is to be known as fruitless; but if it cries once, twice, thrice, or four times, it is auspicious and fruitful. If it cries five or six times, it is said to be fruitless; if seven times, it is again fruitful, but beyond that, it becomes fruitless. Such cries may cause horripilation in people and fear for vehicles. The bird called jvālānalā or sūryamukhī is known to increase fear. If a deer is first seen in an auspicious place, it brings good fortune for a year to a person; even in an inauspicious place, it is also favorable. A person who sees such a deer on the first day should know the result for the year as corresponding to himself. Now, Puṣkara spoke further: If many crows enter a city by a particular path, and that path is blocked, the city will be captured. If a crow settles in the army for rest and caws—especially if it is on the left, frightened, or agitated—it foretells great danger. If it pecks at shadows, limbs, vehicles, shoes, umbrellas, clothes, or similar things, it means death if worshipped, but auspiciousness if used for desired purposes. If a crow circles the door when someone is away, or throws red or burnt things into a house, it indicates fire. If it places red things in front, it foretells imprisonment. If it brings yellow, golden, or silver objects, it indicates gain; if it takes away such things, it indicates loss. Finding wealth in front means gain; vomiting raw meat means gain of land; throwing mud means gain of territory; offering jewels means great sovereignty. A crow favorable to the traveler brings safety and success; an unfavorable one brings fear and failure. If it approaches cawing in front, it causes obstruction to the journey. The left crow is considered auspicious, the right one brings loss. The left crow going in the proper direction is best, the middle one is considered right; the left one going in the reverse direction prevents departure. If a crow enters a house for a desired purpose, it indicates the fulfillment of that purpose. If it stands on one leg facing the sun, it brings fear. If it stays in a hollow, it brings great misfortune. A crow on frost is not auspicious, but one with mud is praised. A crow with a mouth full of filth fulfills all desires. Other birds are also to be understood in this way, O descendant of Bhṛgu. Dogs standing to the left of the camp bring destruction to Brāhmaṇas. If they bark at the king’s place, the city gate, or inside the house, it foretells death for the master. If a dog sniffs the left side of a person, it brings success; if the right side, it brings fear; if the right arm, it brings obstruction to the journey. If it faces the traveler, it causes obstruction; if it blocks the path, it indicates thieves. If its mouth is bone-filled or rope-filled, it means loss. If its mouth has shoes or meat, it is auspicious. If its mouth has inauspicious things or hair, it is unfavorable. If it urinates in front of someone, it brings fear; if it urinates and goes away, it brings auspiciousness, as does going to a good place or tree. If it goes to an auspicious thing, it brings success. Jackals and other similar creatures are to be known like dogs, O Rāma. If they howl without cause, it brings fear to the master. At night, a strange howl means danger or death. If an ox bellows at night, it is auspicious for the master. If a bull is released, it brings victory to the king. If cows eat without fear, or are given, or are one’s own, it is auspicious; if they abandon affection for their calves, it causes miscarriage. If they strike the ground with their feet, are dejected or frightened, it brings fear. If their limbs are wet or hair bristling, or if they are smeared with jackal mud, it is auspicious. All this is to be said for buffaloes and others as well. If a horse is mounted by another, or sits in water, or rolls on the ground, it is not desired. If a horse falls or sleeps without cause, it is inauspicious. If it dislikes barley or sweets, or suddenly refuses them, it is not praised. If blood comes from its mouth or it trembles, it is not praised. If it plays alone with pigeons or mynas, it foretells death. If its eyes are tearful, or it licks its feet with its tongue, it means destruction. If it scratches the earth with its left foot, or sleeps on its left side during the day, it is not auspicious. If it urinates only once, or its face is sleepy, it brings fear. If it does not allow mounting, or enters the house in the opposite direction, it foretells obstruction to the journey. If it touches its left side, it foretells obstruction to the journey. If it neighs and touches the foot, it brings victory in battle. If an elephant mates in the village, it causes the destruction of the place. If a female elephant gives birth or is in rut, it brings the end of the king. If it does not allow mounting, or enters the house in the opposite direction, it foretells obstruction. If the elephant loses its rut, it brings the king’s death. If it touches the left foot with the right, it is auspicious; if it touches the right tooth with its hand, it is also auspicious. If a bull, horse, or elephant goes to the enemy’s army, it is inauspicious. If the army is struck by heavy rain from broken clouds, it will be destroyed. If there are adverse planets or constellations, or opposing winds during a march or battle, the fall of the umbrella brings fear. If people are delighted and planets are favorable, it is a sign of victory. If warriors are overcome by crows or by carnivorous animals, it means destruction of the circle. The eastern, western, and northeastern directions are praised as auspicious. Puṣkara then explained matters of departure, based on royal duty. One should not depart when the sun has set, when it is low, obscured, or when the enemy is ascendant. When the planets are in reverse or afflicted, or when Venus is inauspicious, one should abandon the journey—likewise when Mercury is in reverse, or when a planet is at the junction of directions. During the lunar mansion Baidhṛti, at the time of Vyatīpāta, in the lunar mansion Nāga, or when the omen is a quadruped or a kintughna, one should avoid setting out. One should not depart during times of misfortune, death, opposition, birth, or when the lunar day is Gaṇḍa or empty. The northern and eastern directions are said to be united; likewise, the western and southern directions are also considered united. One should not cross a parigha—an inauspicious period—arising from the directions of wind and fire; the days ruled by the Sun, Moon, and Mars are also not auspicious. Days of Mitra and others, or those of Indra and the waters, are also to be avoided. All gateways are auspicious, but there are shadow periods to be known: for the Sun, twenty; for the Moon, sixteen; for Mars, fifteen; for Mercury, fourteen; for Jupiter, thirteen; and for Venus, twelve. Thus, O wise one, are the omens and timings to be carefully observed, for the welfare of all who set forth.