Shloka 28

Devanagari script

एकबलिः शतायुः स्याच्छ्रीभोगी द्विवलिः स्मृतः / त्रिवलिः क्ष्माप आचार्य ऋजुभिर्वालिभिः सुखी

Transliteration

ekabaliḥ śatāyuḥ syācchrībhogī dvivaliḥ smṛtaḥ / trivaliḥ kṣmāpa ācārya ṛjubhirvālibhiḥ sukhī

Translation

Wer nur eine Körperfalte (vali) hat, soll hundert Jahre leben; wer zwei Falten hat, gilt als einer, der Wohlstand und Genüsse erfährt. Wer drei Falten hat, wird zum Herrscher der Erde; und, o Lehrer, wer gerade Falten hat, lebt glücklich.

Word by Word

• एकबलिः: one-folded (person)
• एकबलिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (nom. sg.); संख्यासमास (dvigu)

• शतायुः: having a hundred-year lifespan
• शतायुः: Visheshana (Predicative adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस्/आयुः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc. nom. sg.)

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रीभोगी: enjoying prosperity and pleasures
• श्रीभोगी: Visheshana (Predicative adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc. nom. sg.)

• द्विवलिः: two-folded (person)
• द्विवलिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (nom. sg.); संख्यासमास (dvigu)

• स्मृतः: is considered/said (to be)
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृदन्त; क्त/PPP)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (passive predicative)

• त्रिवलिः: three-folded (person)
• त्रिवलिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (nom. sg.); संख्यासमास (dvigu)

• क्ष्माप: king (protector of the earth)
• क्ष्माप: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्ष्माप (प्रातिपदिक; क्ष्मा+प/पाल = 'earth-protector')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (nom. sg.); संबोधनार्थे अपि पठ्यते (could be vocative by context)

• आचार्य: O teacher
• आचार्य: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (voc. sg.)

• ऋजुभिः: by/with straight (ones)
• ऋजुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋजु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (masc. instr. pl.)

• वालिभिः: with folds/lines
• वालिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (instr. pl.)

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Visheshana (Predicative adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc. nom. sg.)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue to Garuḍa/Vinata-putra, in the didactic section of Garuḍa Purāṇa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Number and straightness of bodily folds correlate with karmic fruits: long life, prosperity/pleasure, rulership, and general happiness.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala gradation; ‘ṛju’ (straight) as a sattvic marker aligning outer form with inner harmony.

Application: Cultivate ‘ṛjutā’ (straightness) in conduct; treat prosperity and power as opportunities for dharma and devotion rather than attachment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (valī-lakṣaṇa sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily marks (lakṣaṇa) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse treats certain bodily folds/lines as traditional indicators of lifespan, prosperity, rulership, and happiness, reflecting a dharma-text style of reading auspicious signs.

How does this verse explain destiny—lifespan and prosperity?

It links observable traits (one, two, or three folds; straightness of folds) with predicted outcomes such as longevity, enjoyment of wealth, kingship, and a generally happy life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to value dharmic living over superstition: cultivate uprightness (ṛjutā), ethical conduct, and disciplined habits as the real foundations of a happy and prosperous life.