Chapter 229 - The significance of Dreams (svapna-adhyāya)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Puṣkara said:

1-14. I shall describe the good and bad omens and the way to prevent bad dreams [i.e., svapna]. The growth of grass and trees on one’s body except the navel, the breaking of bronze on the head, the shaving (of the head), remaining nude, clad in torn dress, anointing with oil, besmearing with mud, falling from a great height, one’s marriage, music, playing on the lute or any other stringed instrument, swinging in a hammock, gathering lotus and metals, killing of serpents, seeing red flowers and trees and a cāṇḍāla, riding a pig or dog or ass or camel, eating the flesh of birds, and the oil of kṛsara (?) entering the mother’s womb, getting into the funeral pyre, the fall of the flag-post etc., the fall of the moon and the sun, seeing the divine beings of the terrestrial and celestial regions as well as a calamity (such as the earthquake), the wrath of the divine beings, brahmins, other beings and preceptors, dancing, laughing, marriage and singing, playing on stringed instruments other than the lute, drowning in a river, bathing in water mixed with cow-dung, or muddy water or water mixed with ink, embracing the unmarried girls, sexual union of men, injury to one’s limbs, purging or vomiting, starting in the direction of the south, being afflicted by diseases, plucking of fruits, breaking of diseases, breaking of minerals, falling of buildings, sweeping the house, playing with goblins, flesh-eaters, monkeys and low-caste men, insult from others and feeling grief on account of that, wearing ochre robes and playing in that dress, immersion in oil and drinks anointing with red unguent are inauspicious omens and it is better not to describe them.

15-18. (After dreaming as above) one should continue to sleep, bathe, worship a brahmin, do oblations with sesamum, worship (gods) Hari (Viṣṇu), Brahmā, Śiva, Sun and Gaṇapati (Vināyaka). Then one should recite hymns (on gods) and repeat hymns such as the Puruṣasūkta^[1]. The dreams dreamt in the first quarter of the night yield results within a year, the second (quarter), within six months, the third quarter of the night, within three months, the fourth (quarter), within a fortnight and within ten days (if dreamt) at (the time of) the sunrise. If (two dreams) either auspicious or inauspicious (were dreamt) on the same night, one should indicate the result of the dream dreamt later.

19-22. Hence, it is not commended to sleep after a good dream (has been dreamt). (Dreaming) as climbing a hill, mansion, elephant, horse or bull is beneficial. O Brahmin! (Seeing) trees and white flowers in the sky (seeing) the navel as grown with trees, (seeing oneself) as having many arms and many heads, (seeing) the appearance of grey hair, bearing a garland of white (flowers), wearing white garment, the eclipses of the moon, sun and the stars, washing (oneself), embracing the flag-post and the raising of the banner (are good).

23-27. O Brahmin! Seizing of land and stream of water, victory over the enemies, success in dispute, dice-play and battle, eating of raw meat and drinking of sweet porridge, seeing blood, bathing in blood, drinking of spirituous liquor, blood and wine, drinking of milk, making marks with the weapons on the earth, (seeing) the clear sky, and sucking milk from cows, she-buffalos, lionesses, she-elephants and mares are commendable. O Brahmin! The favour from the gods, brahmins and preceptors, the anointment with water and falling down from the horns of cow (are also commendable).

28-29. O Rāma! (The dream) as falling down from the horns of a moon is known to be capable of bestowing kingdom. The installation as the sovereign, the cutting of one’s head, the death, the destruction of one’s house by fire, the gain of royal rewards and the play on stringed instruments (are auspicious).

30-31. The family of a person flourishes that sees an elephant or horse or gold or bull or cow. (Dreams of) riding a bull or an elephant, the climbing a peak or a tree, weeping, besmeared with ghee or excreta, copulating with a forbidden women, (seeing) a white cloth, clear waters, tree laden with fruits and clear sky (are good augury).

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

ṚV. 10.91.1.