Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

हस्ताङ्गुलय एव स्युवायुद्वारयुताः शुभाः / मेधाविनां च सूक्ष्माः स्युर्भृत्यानां चिपिटाः स्मृताः

Transliteration

hastāṅgulaya eva syuvāyudvārayutāḥ śubhāḥ / medhāvināṃ ca sūkṣmāḥ syurbhṛtyānāṃ cipiṭāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

Die Finger der Hände gelten als glückverheißend, wenn sie mit Öffnungen, mit Kanälen für den Lebenswind (Vayu), versehen sind. Bei Verständigen sind sie schlank und fein; bei Dienern werden sie als flach und stumpf erinnert.

Word by Word

• हस्त: hand
• हस्त: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद (हस्ताङ्गुलयः इत्यत्र)

• अङ्गुलयः: fingers
• अङ्गुलयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

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

• वायु: wind/air
• वायु: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासपूर्वपद (वायुद्वारयुताः)

• द्वार: door/opening
• द्वार: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासपद (वायुद्वार-)

• युताः: endowed with/connected with (air-openings)
• युताः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √युज्/युज् ‘योजने’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः: वायुद्वार-युत (तत्पुरुष)

• शुभाः: auspicious
• शुभाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मेधाविनाम्: of the intelligent/wise
• मेधाविनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधाविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• सूक्ष्माः: fine/slender
• सूक्ष्माः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

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

• भृत्यानाम्: of servants/attendants
• भृत्यानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• चिपिटाः: flat/short (stubby)
• चिपिटाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिपिट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are considered/are said
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृत (कृदन्त; √स्मृ ‘स्मरणे’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘are considered/said’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakshana-shastra: bodily features are read as indicators of guna, capacity, and social function.

Vedantic Theme: Prakriti-guna and karma shaping embodied traits (deha as karma-kshetra).

Application: Use as a cautionary, non-absolute guide in assessing aptitude/temperament; cultivate buddhi and refinement rather than judging solely by birth or appearance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (lakshana/anga-pariksha context)

FAQs

What is the importance of vāyu-dvāra (channels of vital air) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bodily features as auspicious when they support the proper movement of vāyu (vital force), implying harmony of life-energy as a sign of well-being and good fortune.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by linking physical traits to vāyu (a key subtle-life principle), it reflects the Garuda Purana’s broader view that subtle forces (like vāyu) connect body, vitality, and the individual’s condition across life and death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to value balanced vitality and disciplined living—supporting health, breath, and steadiness of mind—rather than as a rigid basis for judging a person’s worth.