Shloka 39

Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life

Devanagari script

अत्याशी चातिपानश्च स्तनौ शुष्कफलोपमौ / ऊरौ नवाञ्जिकारोमः तथा पृष्ठे च मस्तके

Transliteration

atyāśī cātipānaśca stanau śuṣkaphalopamau / ūrau navāñjikāromaḥ tathā pṛṣṭhe ca mastake

Translation

Wer übermäßig isst und trinkt – dessen Brüste werden wie getrocknete Früchte; und Haar, dunkel wie frisches Collyrium, erscheint auf den Schenkeln sowie auf dem Rücken und dem Kopf.

Word by Word

• अत्याशी: one who eats excessively
• अत्याशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-आशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘अति’ उपसर्गपूर्वकः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• अतिपानः: excessive drinker / excessive drinking
• अतिपानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति-पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘अति’पूर्वकः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• स्तनौ: the two breasts
• स्तनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• शुष्कफलोपमौ: like dried fruits
• शुष्कफलोपमौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क-फल-उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण; उपमा-वाचक (‘उपम’=like)

• ऊरौ: the two thighs
• ऊरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• नवाञ्जिकारोमः: having hair like (new) collyrium/blackness (i.e., dark hair)
• नवाञ्जिकारोमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव-अञ्जिका-रोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; (नव=नूतन) + (अञ्जिका=अञ्जन/अञ्जिका-नाम) + (रोम=hair)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: in the same way)

• पृष्ठे: on the back
• पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• मस्तके: on the head
• मस्तके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Overeating and overdrinking lead to bodily decline and ominous changes; moderation is dharma and supports clarity.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha (sense-control) as a prerequisite for sattva and spiritual steadiness.

Application: Adopt moderation in diet and alcohol, cultivate mindful eating, and align habits with health and spiritual practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (behavior-linked bodily signs)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of overeating and excessive drinking in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats gluttony and over-drinking as karmically significant habits that manifest as degrading bodily signs, reinforcing restraint (niyama) as part of dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that habitual sins leave impressions that follow the being beyond death, appearing as specific marks or deformities connected with one’s karma in the post-death condition described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice moderation in food and intoxicants, cultivate self-control, and adopt sattvic discipline—reducing harm to body and mind and avoiding karmic consequences described in the text.