Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

दुर्लक्षणैः सदा वीन्द्र संश्रुतैस्तत्त्वविद्भवेत् / महोदरो लंबनाभिरीषामात्रोग्रदंष्ट्रकः

Transliteration

durlakṣaṇaiḥ sadā vīndra saṃśrutaistattvavidbhavet / mahodaro laṃbanābhirīṣāmātrogradaṃṣṭrakaḥ

Translation

يا خيرَ الطير، إنّ من يُصغي بإمعان إلى هذه العلامات المشؤومة الدائمة يصير عارفًا بالحقيقة: عظيمَ البطن، متدلّي السُّرّة، شديدَ الأنياب—وإن كان جسده في قدرٍ متوسط.

Word by Word

• दुर्लक्षणैः: with evil/inauspicious marks
• दुर्लक्षणैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण—करणभावे (instrumental)

• सदा: always
• सदा: अधिकरण (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• वीन्द्र: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• वीन्द्र: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधनपदम्

• संश्रुतैः: heard/learned (from tradition)
• संश्रुतैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संश्रुत (श्रु धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• तत्त्वविद्: a knower of truth
• तत्त्वविद्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व + विद् (प्रातिपदिक; विद् = ‘knower’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासान्त ‘विद्’ (stem in -विद्)

• भवेत्: should be/becomes
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• महोदरः: big-bellied
• महोदरः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• लंबनाभिः: with a hanging navel
• लंबनाभिः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लम्ब + नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘लम्बनाभि’ (having a hanging navel)

• ईषामात्रः: of the size of a yoke/beam
• ईषामात्रः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईषा + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक-विशेषण (measure-denoting)

• उग्रदंष्ट्रकः: with fierce tusks/fangs
• उग्रदंष्ट्रकः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र + दंष्ट्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Heeding dur-lakṣaṇa (inauspicious marks) as a means to become ‘tattvavit’—one who understands practical truth in worldly dealings.

Vedantic Theme: Discrimination (viveka) in empirical life: knowing patterns of harm/adharma while remembering the Self is beyond bodily form.

Application: Be alert to consistent red flags (behavioral and situational) rather than being swayed by superficial normalcy (‘moderate measure’ body yet dangerous traits).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22.31–33 (lakṣaṇa and doṣa inference sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Vīndra)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing such physical signs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses recognizable “inauspicious marks” to identify beings associated with dark karma and Yama’s domain, helping the listener grasp the Purana’s moral-psychological mapping of sin and consequence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By pointing to Yama-related indicators (Yamadūta-like traits), it supports the broader narrative that karmic tendencies draw the soul toward specific post-death experiences and escorts in Yama’s jurisdiction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the description as a reminder to avoid harmful actions and cultivate sattvic conduct—truthfulness, restraint, and compassion—so one’s destiny is not shaped toward fearful after-death conditions.