Shloka 120

Purusha-Strī-Lakṣaṇa (Samudrika-śāstra): Marks of Kingship, Wealth, Longevity, and Conduct

Devanagari script

शिरालैर्विषमैः शुष्कैर्वित्तहीना भवन्ति हि / समुन्नतोत्तरेष्ठी या कलहे रूक्षभाषिणी

Transliteration

śirālairviṣamaiḥ śuṣkairvittahīnā bhavanti hi / samunnatottareṣṭhī yā kalahe rūkṣabhāṣiṇī

Translation

حقًّا إنها تصير مُعدَمة—يجفّ جسدها وتبدو عروقها غير متساوية بارزة—هي التي ترتفع شفتها العليا وتبرز، وتتكلم بخشونة عند الخصام.

Word by Word

• शिरालैः: with veiny (limbs)
• शिरालैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied अङ्गैः/हस्तैः etc.)

• विषमैः: uneven/irregular
• विषमैः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• शुष्कैः: dry
• शुष्कैः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• वित्तहीनाः: devoid of wealth
• वित्तहीनाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of subject)

• भवन्ति: become/are
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• समुन्नतोत्तरेष्ठी: having an upraised upper lip
• समुन्नतोत्तरेष्ठी: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुन्नत (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + एष्ठी/ओष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of या)

• या: who (she)
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• कलहे: in quarrel
• कलहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• रूक्षभाषिणी: harsh-speaking
• रूक्षभाषिणी: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + भाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of या)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rough, quarrelsome speech and contentious disposition correlate with misfortune and bodily deterioration.

Vedantic Theme: Karma shaping prarabdha-like embodied conditions; speech (vak) as a potent karmic instrument.

Application: Practice madhura-vakya (gentle speech), conflict de-escalation, and self-restraint to reduce harm and cultivate auspiciousness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections on stri-nara-lakshana (physiognomy) linking traits, speech, and fortune

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling speech in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links quarrelsome, harsh speech to negative karmic outcomes—poverty and bodily affliction—showing that vāg-dharma (ethical speech) is treated as a serious moral discipline.

How does this verse explain karmic consequences?

It presents a cause-and-effect model: a habit of rude, abrasive speech in conflict (kalahā) results in tangible suffering—loss of wealth and physical deterioration—illustrating karma’s moral reciprocity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid insulting or cutting words during disagreements; practice truthful, gentle, and timely speech to reduce conflict and cultivate prosperity-supporting conduct.