Shloka 113

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

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वं द्वाभ्यां पिण्डिकाभ्यां जङ्घे चातिशिरालके / रोमशेचातिमांसे च कुम्भाकारं तथोदरम्

Transliteration

ūrdhvaṃ dvābhyāṃ piṇḍikābhyāṃ jaṅghe cātiśirālake / romaśecātimāṃse ca kumbhākāraṃ tathodaram

Translation

Oberhalb beider Waden sind die Schienbeine übermäßig von Adern durchzogen; sie sind zu behaart und zu fleischig, und auch der Bauch wird krugförmig.

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards / above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Desha (Location/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb) ‘उपरि’

• द्वाभ्याम्: by two
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं/स्त्री (सामान्य), तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन; संख्या-विशेषणम्

• पिण्डिकाभ्याम्: by the two calves (of the legs)
• पिण्डिकाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन

• जङ्घे: the two shanks/legs
• जङ्घे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• अति-शिरालके: very veiny
• अति-शिरालके: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग) + शिरालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘अतिशिरालक’ = अत्यन्तं शिरायुक्त (very veiny); जङ्घे इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• रोमशे: hairy
• रोमशे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोमश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘रोमयुक्ते’ (hairy); (जङ्घे इत्यस्य) विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• अति-मांसे: very fleshy
• अति-मांसे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘अतिमांस’ = अत्यन्तं मांसल (very fleshy); (जङ्घे इत्यस्य) विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• कुम्भ-आकारम्: pot-shaped
• कुम्भ-आकारम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘कुम्भाकार’ = घटाकार; (उदरम् इत्यस्य) विशेषणम्

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb) ‘एवम्/अपि’

• उदरम्: belly/abdomen
• उदरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Somatic traits are treated as signs of underlying constitution and karmic disposition, used to judge auspiciousness.

Vedantic Theme: Body as a mutable product of causes (karma and guṇa), inviting discernment between self and bodily attributes.

Application: As cultural text: interpret as historical physiognomy; as health cue: note that pot-belly/vein prominence may warrant lifestyle attention without moral judgment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65.112-114 (continuing bodily mark descriptions; likely further traits and outcomes)

FAQs

What is the importance of karmic bodily signs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats certain bodily features (excess veins, hair, flesh, and a pot-belly) as outward indicators of past karma, reinforcing the Purana’s theme that actions leave tangible consequences.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking physical form to prior deeds, it implies continuity of karma across lives—what the soul carries forward shapes the embodied experience encountered on its journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to live ethically and self-disciplined—since the text emphasizes that harmful actions can manifest as suffering and limitations in embodied life.