Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

पितृवित्तविनाशश्च निम्नात्करतलान्नराः / मणिबन्धैर्निगूढैश्च सुश्लिष्टैः शुभगन्धिभिः

Transliteration

pitṛvittavināśaśca nimnātkaratalānnarāḥ / maṇibandhairnigūḍhaiśca suśliṣṭaiḥ śubhagandhibhiḥ

Translation

Bei Männern, deren Handflächen hohl und eingesunken sind, kommt es zum Verlust des väterlichen, angestammten Vermögens. Ebenso folgt Unheil denen, deren Handgelenke von eng anliegenden, fest geschlossenen und wohlriechenden Armreifen verdeckt werden.

Word by Word

• पितृ: father/ancestors
• पितृ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (पितृवित्तविनाशः)

• वित्त: wealth
• वित्त: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासमध्यपद (पितृ-वित्त-विनाशः)

• विनाशः: loss/destruction
• विनाशः: Karta/Predicate noun (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः: पितृ-वित्त-विनाश (तत्पुरुष)

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

• निम्नात्: from (being) depressed/low
• निम्नात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे (from a depression)

• करतलात्: from the palm
• करतलात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ‘निम्नात्’ इत्यनेन सह (nimnāt karatalāt)

• नराः: men/persons
• नराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मणिबन्धैः: with wrists
• मणिबन्धैः: Hetu/Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणिबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः: मणि-बन्ध (तत्पुरुष; wrist)

• निगूढैः: hidden/concealed
• निगूढैः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निगूढ (कृदन्त; √गुह् ‘गोपने’ + नि)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

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

• सुश्लिष्टैः: well-joined/compact
• सुश्लिष्टैः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + श्लिष्ट (कृदन्त; √श्लिष् ‘आलिङ्गने/संश्लेषे’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘सु’ उपपद (well-)

• शुभगन्धिभिः: with pleasant fragrance
• शुभगन्धिभिः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + गन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः: शुभ-गन्धिन् (कर्मधारय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Family fortune (paitrika-dhana) is fragile; embodied signs are read as omens of depletion and binding circumstances.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya (impermanence) of wealth; karma shaping household outcomes.

Application: Practice prudent stewardship of inherited resources; perform dharmic giving and avoid waste; maintain humility about fortune.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (omens/lakshanas connected to prosperity)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of ancestral wealth (pitṛ-vitta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats pitṛ-vitta as a karmically sensitive inheritance: certain bodily signs are described as omens indicating its decline, linking prosperity with dharmic order and inherited merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by highlighting karmic indicators in embodied life, it implies that one’s fortunes—including lineage-supporting resources used for duties like śrāddha—are shaped by prior causes, which in turn affect post-death rites and support.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Rather than fatalism, take it as a prompt to protect family resources through ethical conduct, fulfill pitṛ-dharma (care for elders, śrāddha/ancestral remembrance where appropriate), and avoid vanity-driven display that distracts from duty.