Shloka 121

Devanagari script

स्त्रीषु दोषा विरूपासु पत्राकारो गुणास्ततः / नरस्त्रीलक्षणं प्रोक्तं वक्ष्ये तज्ज्ञानदायकम्

Transliteration

strīṣu doṣā virūpāsu patrākāro guṇāstataḥ / narastrīlakṣaṇaṃ proktaṃ vakṣye tajjñānadāyakam

Translation

في النساء يُقال إن العيوب تظهر إذا كانت الهيئة مشوّهة، أمّا الفضائل فتُعرَف من صورة متناسقة متوازنة. وبعد أن قيلت علامات الرجال والنساء، فسأبيّنها الآن—علماً يمنح التمييز والبصيرة.

Word by Word

• स्त्रीषु: among women
• स्त्रीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• दोषाः: faults
• दोषाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• विरूपासु: in ugly (women)
• विरूपासु: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of स्त्रीषु)

• पत्राकारः: leaf-like shape
• पत्राकारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गुणाः: qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ततः: therefore/therefrom
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; 'therefore/from that')

• नरस्त्रीलक्षणम्: the characteristics of men and women
• नरस्त्रीलक्षणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (नर-स्त्री) + तत्पुरुष (लक्षण)

• प्रोक्तम्: has been stated
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थ (said/declared)

• वक्ष्ये: I will explain
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ज्ञानदायकम्: knowledge-giving
• ज्ञानदायकम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + दायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of तत्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇas (signs) are taught as a means of viveka—discerning faults and virtues through observed characteristics.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) as a supportive faculty for dharmic living (though not ultimate Brahma-jnana here).

Application: Use discernment without cruelty: evaluate character through conduct and speech, not merely appearance; apply knowledge ethically.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: continuation into Strī-nara-lakṣaṇa adhyāya (chapter 66); Garuda Purana: physiognomy passages linking guṇa/doṣa with observable signs

FAQs

What is the importance of nara-strī-lakṣaṇa (marks of men and women) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames lakṣaṇa as a tool for discernment—distinguishing doṣa (blemish) and guṇa (virtue) through observable characteristics, presented as practical knowledge in the text’s instructional dialogue.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife teachings?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s post-death journey here; instead, it shifts to human-characteristics teaching, indicating the Purana’s broader aim of guiding ethical and practical discernment alongside afterlife topics.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to cultivate discernment and self-improvement—treating “guṇa” as qualities to develop—while avoiding harsh judgment of others based solely on appearance.