Shloka 10

Strīlakṣaṇa: Auspicious Marks, Domestic Ideals, and Saubhāgya Practices

Devanagari script

उद्वृत्ता कपिला यस्य रोमराजी निरन्तरम् / अपि राजकुले जाता दासीत्वमुपगच्छति

Transliteration

udvṛttā kapilā yasya romarājī nirantaram / api rājakule jātā dāsītvamupagacchati

Translation

المرأة التي يقف شعر جسدها خشناً مائلاً إلى الصفرة، ولها خطّ شعرٍ متصل (romarājī)، وإن وُلِدت في بيتٍ مَلَكيّ، تؤول إلى حال العبودية والخدمة.

Word by Word

• उद्वृत्ता: raised/turned up
• उद्वृत्ता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-वृत् (धातु) → उद्वृत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (भूतकर्मणि/परिणामवाचक) विशेषण

• कपिला: tawny, brownish
• कपिला: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• रोमराजी: line/row of hair
• रोमराजी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोम + राजी (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रोम्णां राजी)

• निरन्तरम्: continuously, without break
• निरन्तरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निरन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• राजकुले: in a royal family
• राजकुले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज + कुल (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञः कुलम्)

• जाता: born
• जाता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (भूतकर्मणि)

• दासीत्वम्: servitude, slavehood
• दासीत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दासी + त्व (प्रातिपदिक; तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक (state/condition)

• उपगच्छति: attains, comes to
• उपगच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa-based prognostication: certain bodily traits are treated as indicators of future social status and fortune.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra shaping embodied conditions (deha as a field where past impressions appear as signs).

Application: Traditional reading: cultivate sadācāra and auspicious conduct rather than relying on omens; modern reading: treat as a historical cultural belief, avoid discriminatory conclusions, focus on ethical behavior and wellbeing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.64.11-14 (continuation of strī-lakṣaṇa/auspiciousness-inauspiciousness and bodily signs)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily signs (lakṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents certain bodily features as indicators of karmic outcomes, emphasizing that conduct and karmic forces can override birth-based status.

How does this verse explain karma’s effect on life circumstances?

It states that even royal birth does not prevent a fall into servitude when unfavorable karmic indications are present, highlighting karma as the decisive factor.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not rely on lineage or privilege; focus on dharmic living and ethical actions, since outcomes are shaped by karma rather than status alone.