Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

अस्वेदिनौ मृदुतलौ कमलोदरसन्निभौ / श्लेष्टाङ्गुली ताम्रनखौ पादाविष्णौ शिरोज्झितौ

Transliteration

asvedinau mṛdutalau kamalodarasannibhau / śleṣṭāṅgulī tāmranakhau pādāviṣṇau śirojjhitau

Translation

قدماه لا تتعرّقان؛ وأخمصاهما رقيقتان كباطن زهرة اللوتس. أصابع قدميه متقاربة، وأظفاره نحاسية اللون، وقدماه كقدمي فيشنو—عليهما علامة اللوتس.

Word by Word

• अस्वेदिनौ: non-sweating
• अस्वेदिनौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-स्वेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक; स्वेदिन् from √स्विद् (धातु) with नञ्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण

• मृदुतलौ: soft-soled
• मृदुतलौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु-तल (प्रातिपदिक; मृदु + तल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; विशेषण

• कमलोदरसन्निभौ: like the belly of a lotus (lotus-like)
• कमलोदरसन्निभौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमल-उदर-सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक; कमल + उदर + सन्निभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; विशेषण

• श्लेष्टाङ्गुली: with well-knit/close-set toes
• श्लेष्टाङ्गुली: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लेष्ट-अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक; श्लेष्ट + अङ्गुलि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; विशेषण

• ताम्रनखौ: copper-reddish-nailed
• ताम्रनखौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र-नख (प्रातिपदिक; ताम्र + नख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; विशेषण

• पादौ: the two feet
• पादौ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• विष्णौ: Vishnu-like / auspicious
• विष्णौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण (as epithet: ‘Vishnu-like’)

• शिरोज्झितौ: free from prominent veins/lines on the head (lit. ‘head-abandoned’); smooth
• शिरोज्झितौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिरस्-उज्झित (प्रातिपदिक; शिरस् + उज्झित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda / Vinatā-putra, in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious marks (non-sweating, lotus-like soles, coppery nails, close-set toes) indicate śrī (prosperity) and dhārmic fitness; Vishnu-lakṣaṇa implies divine favor.

Vedantic Theme: Śrī/Vishnu symbolism: worldly excellence is framed as participation in divine order; yet remains within empirical sign-reading.

Application: Traditional selection/recognition of leaders and spouses; symbolic reminder to cultivate cleanliness, steadiness, and dhārmic conduct worthy of ‘Vishnu-like’ epithet.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (nara-lakṣaṇa sequence); Garuda Purana 1.64 (parallel strī-lakṣaṇa feet description)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of describing lotus-like feet in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses sacred iconographic markers—soft, lotus-like soles and auspicious signs—to indicate divinity and spiritual perfection, a traditional way scriptures identify Viṣṇu or Viṣṇu-like auspiciousness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by contrasting divine auspicious marks with ordinary bodily traits, it points to the ideal of transcendence and purity that the soul seeks through dharma and devotion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a contemplative cue: cultivate humility and devotion (bhakti) by remembering the lotus symbolism—purity amid the world—and align conduct with dharma.