Shloka 17

Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life

Devanagari script

समानहस्तौ समकर्णौ मिलित्वा द्वात्रिंशत्कं लक्षणं प्राहुरार्याः / द्वात्रिंशत्कं लक्षणं वै मुकुन्दे द्वात्रिंशत्कं लक्षणं वै रमायाम्

Transliteration

samānahastau samakarṇau militvā dvātriṃśatkaṃ lakṣaṇaṃ prāhurāryāḥ / dvātriṃśatkaṃ lakṣaṇaṃ vai mukunde dvātriṃśatkaṃ lakṣaṇaṃ vai ramāyām

Translation

إذا تساوت اليدان وتماثلت الأذنان، أعلن النبلاء مجموعة العلامات المباركة الاثنتين والثلاثين. حقًّا، هذه العلامات الاثنتان والثلاثون في مُكُندَ (فيشنو)، وهذه العلامات نفسها في رَما (لاكشمي) أيضًا.

Word by Word

• samāna-hastau: two equal hands
• samāna-hastau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samāna (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘equal hands’

• samāna-karṇau: two equal ears
• samāna-karṇau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samāna (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘equal ears’

• militvā: having come together
• militvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mil (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having joined/come together’

• dvātriṃśatkam: the set of thirty-two
• dvātriṃśatkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvātriṃśat (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘set of thirty-two’

• lakṣaṇam: mark/characteristic
• lakṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāhuḥ: they declared
• prāhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• āryāḥ: the noble ones/sages
• āryāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dvātriṃśatkam: the set of thirty-two
• dvātriṃśatkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvātriṃśat (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); repeated as topic

• lakṣaṇam: characteristic
• lakṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक निपात)

• mukunde: in Mukunda (Vishnu)
• mukunde: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukunda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dvātriṃśatkam: the set of thirty-two
• dvātriṃśatkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvātriṃśat (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• lakṣaṇam: characteristic
• lakṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक निपात)

• ramāyām: in Ramā (Lakshmi)
• ramāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious marks culminate in the divine couple—Mukunda and Ramā—indicating inseparability of divinity and śrī (grace/prosperity).

Vedantic Theme: Śrī as inseparable śakti of Nārāyaṇa; auspiciousness as intrinsic to Brahman-with-attributes (saguṇa) for upāsanā.

Application: In worship/meditation, contemplate the divine couple together; see auspiciousness as grace that harmonizes power (Viṣṇu) and compassion/prosperity (Lakṣmī).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: divine abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (conclusion of the 32-lakṣaṇa set)

Characters & Entities

• Mukunda (Vishnu)
• Rama (Lakshmi)

FAQs

What is the importance of the thirty-two marks (dvātriṃśat lakṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the thirty-two marks as authoritative signs recognized by the learned, identifying divine auspiciousness as embodied in Viṣṇu and also in Lakṣmī.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it teaches discernment of sattvic, auspicious qualities: the Purana links sacred “marks” with divinity, encouraging devotees to align life with dharma and devotion rather than inauspicious conduct that leads to suffering after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to cultivate inner auspiciousness—truthfulness, self-restraint, devotion, and compassion—seeing external “marks” as symbols of balanced, dharmic living.