Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

ललाटे त्रीणि दीर्घे तु समे द्वौ संप्रकीर्तितौ / सर्पाकारस्तु यो मत्स्यस्तस्य शिश्रे प्रकीर्तितः

Transliteration

lalāṭe trīṇi dīrghe tu same dvau saṃprakīrtitau / sarpākārastu yo matsyastasya śiśre prakīrtitaḥ

Translation

على الجبهة تُعَدُّ ثلاثُ علاماتٍ طويلةٍ ميمونة، وتُمدَح علامتان إذا كانتا متساويتين. وأمّا العلامةُ على هيئةِ سمكةٍ تشبهُ الحيّةَ فتُعلَنُ أنّها تكونُ على عضوِه الذكريّ.

Word by Word

• ललाटे: on the forehead
• ललाटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• त्रीणि: three
• त्रीणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• दीर्घे: two long (ones)
• दीर्घे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), द्विवचन; विशेषण (long)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• समे: two even (ones)
• समे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), द्विवचन; विशेषण (even/equal)

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• संप्रकीर्तितौ: are declared/described
• संप्रकीर्तितौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत (past passive participle): ‘well-described/declared’

• सर्पाकारः: snake-shaped
• सर्पाकारः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्प-आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (snake-shaped)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• यः: which/that (one)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• मत्स्यः: fish
• मत्स्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शिश्रे: in/at the penis (genital)
• शिश्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; (अङ्गविशेषः)

• प्रकीर्तितः: is described
• प्रकीर्तितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (PPP): ‘is said/described’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bodily marks (rekha/cihna) are read as indicators of disposition and destiny, implying prior karmic imprint.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-samskara shaping embodied experience (deha as upadhi).

Application: Use as a traditional diagnostic/character-reading rubric; temper with ethical restraint and avoid deterministic harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (anga-lakshana section, surrounding verses on bodily marks)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily marks (lakṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that the Purana treats certain physical lines/marks as interpretable signs—distinguishing ‘praised’ features (like long or even forehead lines) and noting specific identifying marks on the body.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: by linking embodied signs with a person’s qualities and fate, it reflects the Garuda Purana’s broader theme that one’s embodied condition and destiny are shaped and readable through karmic patterns.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to focus on ethical living and self-discipline rather than obsession over omens—seeing the body as a field influenced by karma, while prioritizing dharma and right conduct.