Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

शङ्खातपत्रशिविकागजपद्मोपमा नृपे / कुम्भाङ्कुशपताकाभा मृणालाभा निधीश्वरे

Transliteration

śaṅkhātapatraśivikāgajapadmopamā nṛpe / kumbhāṅkuśapatākābhā mṛṇālābhā nidhīśvare

Translation

O König, diese Zeichen werden der heiligen Muschel (Śaṅkha), dem königlichen Schirm, der Sänfte, dem Elefanten und dem Lotos gleichgesetzt. Für den Herrn des Reichtums (Kubera) gleichen sie einem Krug (Kumbha), einem Elefantenhaken (Aṅkuśa) und einem Banner; für andere erscheinen sie wie der Lotosstängel.

Word by Word

• शङ्ख: conch
• शङ्ख: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (compound-member)

• आतपत्र: parasol
• आतपत्र: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतपत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• शिविका: palanquin
• शिविका: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिविका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• गज: elephant
• गज: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• पद्म: lotus
• पद्म: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• उपमा: having resemblance (to conch, parasol, palanquin, elephant, lotus)
• उपमा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—शङ्ख-आतपत्र-शिविका-गज-पद्म-उपमा (बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः), ‘उपमा’ = ‘सदृशी’

• नृपे: in the king (i.e., for a king)
• नृपे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे/अधिकरणे (context: ‘in/for the king’)

• कुम्भ: pot
• कुम्भ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• अङ्कुश: goad
• अङ्कुश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• पताका: banner
• पताका: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• आभा: having the appearance of pot, goad, banner
• आभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—कुम्भ-अङ्कुश-पताका-आभा (बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः), ‘आभा’ = ‘सदृशी/प्रकाशरूपा’

• मृणाल: lotus-stalk/fibre
• मृणाल: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-अङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृणाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• आभा: having the appearance of lotus-stalk
• आभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—मृणाल-आभा (तत्पुरुषः)

• निधीश्वरे: in the lord of treasures (i.e., wealthy ruler)
• निधीश्वरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक: निधि+ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; समासः—निधि-ईश्वर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching, in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious bodily/hand marks signify karmic fruition and social-lakṣaṇa (status, wealth, honor).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and prārabdha shaping embodied indicators; the world read as a field of signs (nimitta) without denying higher Self.

Application: Use the described symbols as interpretive cues in traditional lakṣaṇa-reading to infer tendencies toward wealth/authority and to encourage dharmic conduct that supports auspicious outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65.50-53 (continuation of lakṣaṇa/rekhā-phala)

Characters & Entities

• Kubera (Nidhīśvara)
• King (nṛpa)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious symbols in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats certain emblem-like forms (conch, parasol, lotus, banner, etc.) as indicators of auspiciousness and fortune, linking visible signs with accumulated merit and divine favor.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by associating auspicious marks with prosperity and elevated status (e.g., Kubera’s domain), it implies that one’s karmic merit shapes future experiences and stations after death and rebirth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Focus on dharmic living and meritorious acts (charity, truthfulness, restraint, devotion), understanding that the Purāṇa frames external fortune as rooted in inner conduct and karma.