Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

विषमैर्धनहीनाश्च दन्ताः स्निग्धा घनाः शुभाः / तीक्ष्णा दन्ताः समाः श्रेष्ठा जिह्वा रक्ता समा शुभा

Transliteration

viṣamairdhanahīnāśca dantāḥ snigdhā ghanāḥ śubhāḥ / tīkṣṇā dantāḥ samāḥ śreṣṭhā jihvā raktā samā śubhā

Translation

Ungleiche Zähne sind ein Zeichen von Mangel an Reichtum; glatte, dichte und wohlgeformte Zähne sind glückverheißend. Scharfe und gleichmäßige Zähne gelten als die besten; und eine rote, gleichmäßige Zunge ist ebenfalls günstig.

Word by Word

• विषमैः: with uneven (teeth)
• विषमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• धन-हीनाः: devoid of wealth
• धन-हीनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (कृदन्त/विशेषण; √हा (जहाति) क्त/निष्ठा-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• दन्ताः: teeth
• दन्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• स्निग्धाः: smooth/oily
• स्निग्धाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (कृदन्त; √स्निह् (स्निहँ) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्

• घनाः: dense/solid
• घनाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• शुभाः: auspicious
• शुभाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• तीक्ष्णाः: sharp
• तीक्ष्णाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• दन्ताः: teeth
• दन्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• समाः: even
• समाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• श्रेष्ठाः: excellent
• श्रेष्ठाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• जिह्वा: tongue
• जिह्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• रक्ता: red
• रक्ता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (कृदन्त; √रञ्ज् (रञ्जँ) क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्

• समा: even
• समा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• शुभा: auspicious
• शुभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Physical harmony (evenness, smoothness, redness) is read as a sign of favorable karmic fruition and prosperity; disharmony indicates deprivation.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha shaping bodily instruments (indriya-upakaraṇa) and life circumstances.

Application: Cultivate health and conduct that support bodily harmony; in traditional context, use such signs cautiously for counsel, not for cruelty or fatalism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (teeth/tongue/palate marks as nimitta)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious bodily signs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats certain physical features (teeth and tongue) as external indicators of inner merit and past karma, used to judge auspiciousness and worldly prosperity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it reflects the Garuda Purana’s karmic framework: visible traits are presented as results of prior actions, reinforcing that one’s condition in life arises from accumulated karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder of ethical living and self-discipline: cultivate good conduct and speech (tongue) rather than obsessing over omens, since karma and character are central themes in the text.