Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

नाभिः प्रदक्षिणावर्ता मध्यं त्रिबलिशोभितम् / अरोमशौ स्तनौ पीनौ घनावविषमौ शुभौ

Transliteration

nābhiḥ pradakṣiṇāvartā madhyaṃ tribaliśobhitam / aromaśau stanau pīnau ghanāvaviṣamau śubhau

Translation

سُرَّتها ملتفّة إلى اليمين (علامة ميمونة)، ووسطها مزدان بثلاث طيّات رقيقة جميلة. وثدياها بلا شعر، ممتلئان، صلبان، متساويان، وذوا هيئة مباركة.

Word by Word

• नाभिः: navel
• नाभिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रदक्षिणावर्ता: right-turning (clockwise)
• प्रदक्षिणावर्ता: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + दक्षिण + आवर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—नाभिः इति विशेष्यस्य

• मध्यम्: waist/midsection
• मध्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्रिबलिशोभितम्: adorned with three folds
• त्रिबलिशोभितम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + बलि + शोभित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—मध्यम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• अरोमशौ: hairless
• अरोमशौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + रोमश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण—स्तनौ इति विशेष्यस्य

• स्तनौ: (her) two breasts
• स्तनौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• पीनौ: full/plump
• पीनौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण—स्तनौ इति विशेष्यस्य

• घनौ: dense/firm
• घनौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण—स्तनौ इति विशेष्यस्य

• अविषमौ: not uneven (symmetrical)
• अविषमौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण—स्तनौ इति विशेष्यस्य

• शुभौ: auspicious/beautiful
• शुभौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण—स्तनौ इति विशेष्यस्य

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious bodily signs include right-turning spiral (dakṣiṇāvarta), graceful waist folds (tribali), and balanced fullness—markers of mangala in samudrika thought.

Vedantic Theme: Auspicious symbols (lakshana) operate in the realm of nama-rupa; the Self is beyond such marks (implicit contrast).

Application: Use ‘dakshinavarta/tribali’ as symbolic language for harmony and right-oriented living; avoid literalizing as standards of worth.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (navel/waist/breast features; repeated 'shubha' refrain)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious bodily marks (lakṣaṇa) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse illustrates how the Purāṇa uses lakṣaṇa—auspicious physical indicators (like a right-turning navel and triple waist-folds)—as traditional signs associated with beauty, fortune, and auspicious destiny.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it belongs to a lakṣaṇa-style description focusing on auspicious traits, reflecting the Purāṇa’s broader interest in dharma, signs, and outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder of the classical Indian focus on “auspiciousness” (śubha) and disciplined living—valuing harmony, balance, and dharmic conduct over mere appearance.