Motif
ominous portents before battle
ominous_portents_before_battle
A motif of the Dream, Vision, and Altered Perception family, within the sub-family Battle and Conflict Portents. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
4 occurrences
1 traditions
hindu
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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2: Books 4, 5, 6 and 7 SECTION XXXVI / SECTION XXXVII / SECTION XXXVIII / SECTION XXXIX; lines 3112-3154 confidence: high
Drona notes violent hot winds, gravel showers, an ashy sky, dry clouds, weapons coming out of cases, jackal cries amid fires, horses shedding tears, and trembling banners.
Drona interprets atmospheric, animal, weapon, and banner signs as inauspicious indications of imminent danger and slaughter.
read in the book → -
The Ramayan of Valmiki Canto L. The Broken Spell. / Canto LX. Kumbhakarna Roused. / Canto LXXIV. The Medicinal Herbs. / Canto LXXV. The Night Attack.; lines 54847-55004 confidence: high
At the gate the sun is overcast, earth rocks, ominous birds cry, a vulture strikes Rávaṇ’s standard, blood falls, horses halt in fear, his face shows deathly hue, and a meteor appears.
A cluster of adverse signs appears as Rávaṇ’s chariot passes the gate before combat.
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The Ramayan of Valmiki Canto XIX. The Rousing Of Khara. / Canto XXI. The Rousing Of Khara. / Canto XXIII. The Omens. / Canto XXIV. The Host In Sight.; lines 29362-29521 confidence: high
As Khara approaches the hermitage, Ráma tells Lakshmaṇ that fearful signs appear: clouds thunder and rain blood, his arrows smoke, his bow throbs, birds cry sadly, and his arm’s throbbing foretells enemy ruin and victory.
The passage foregrounds fearful signs in clouds, blood rain, weapons, birds, bodily throbbing, and facial appearance as warnings of imminent conflict and death.
read in the book → -
The Ramayan of Valmiki Canto XIX. The Rousing Of Khara. / Canto XXI. The Rousing Of Khara. / Canto XXIII. The Omens. / Canto XXIV. The Host In Sight.; lines 29362-29521 confidence: high
Khara approaches the hermitage; Rama sees ominous signs, including clouds, dusty gloom, thunder, blood-rain, smoking shafts, a throbbing bow, and melancholy bird-cries.
The passage foregrounds signs in earth and sky, including blood-rain, thunder, smoking arrows, a throbbing bow, and bird-cries, which Rama interprets as foretelling battle and death.
read in the book →