Shloka 115

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

Devanagari script

पृथुलया प्रचण्डाश्च स्त्रियः स्युर्नात्र संशयः / केकरे पिङ्गले नेत्रे श्यामे लोलेक्षणा सती

Transliteration

pṛthulayā pracaṇḍāśca striyaḥ syurnātra saṃśayaḥ / kekare piṅgale netre śyāme lolekṣaṇā satī

Translation

Eine Frau von breiter Statur ist zweifellos wild. Hat sie schielende, gelbbraune Augen und dunkle Haut, so gilt ihr Blick als unruhig.

Word by Word

• पृथुलया: with broadness; broad
• पृथुलया: Karana (Instrument/characteristic)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; विशेषण (implicit: ग्रीवया/देहाङ्गेन)

• प्रचण्डाः: fierce/violent
• प्रचण्डाः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रचण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण (स्त्रियः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• स्युः: would be/are (said to be)
• स्युः: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• केकरे: squinting/askew
• केकरे: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), द्विवचन; विशेषण (नेत्रे)

• पिङ्गले: tawny/brownish
• पिङ्गले: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), द्विवचन; विशेषण (नेत्रे)

• नेत्रे: (two) eyes
• नेत्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/feature)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), द्विवचन

• श्यामे: dark/blackish
• श्यामे: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), द्विवचन; विशेषण (नेत्रे)

• लोलेक्षणा: one with restless/rolling eyes
• लोलेक्षणा: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोल + ईक्षणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—लोलम् ईक्षणम् यस्याः/या (wanton/rolling-eyed)

• सती: a woman
• सती: Karta (Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘सत्’ (present participle) used as noun/adjective

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Physiognomic traits are mapped to character (svabhāva) and relational harmony/discord.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-based reading of behavior (rajas/tamas) projected onto bodily features (a culturally conditioned interpretive frame).

Application: If used at all, apply as reflective folklore; prioritize observed conduct, consent, and virtue over appearance-based inference.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (women’s lakṣaṇas and behavioral predictions)

FAQs

What is the importance of physiognomy-style descriptions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse exemplifies the text’s use of observable traits as traditional indicators of temperament, aiming to guide social discernment and conduct rather than ritual instruction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it focuses on character signs, which indirectly relate to conduct (karma) that later affects post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical lens on temperament-reading; prioritize ethical behavior and mutual respect over judging people solely by physical appearance.