Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

दुर्लक्षणं त्वे वमादि कलावस्ति ह्यनेकशः / सुलक्षणान्यनेकानि मयि संति खगेश्वर

Transliteration

durlakṣaṇaṃ tve vamādi kalāvasti hyanekaśaḥ / sulakṣaṇānyanekāni mayi saṃti khageśvara

Translation

O Herr der Vögel (Garuda), an dir gibt es viele Stellen, die von unheilvollen Zeichen geprägt sind—wie solche auf der linken Seite und dergleichen; doch auch an mir finden sich zahlreiche glückverheißende Zeichen.

Word by Word

• दुर्लक्षणम्: a bad sign/mark
• दुर्लक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (दुर् + लक्षण)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

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

• वमादि: vomiting and the like
• वमादि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वम + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वम + आदि = ‘vomiting etc.’)

• कलावस्ति: there is (a part/instance)
• कलावस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कला + अस्ति (धातु √अस्, तिङन्त)
• Form: अस्ति: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु √अस् (to be). ‘कला’ इति पदं पूर्वपदम् (स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक

• अनेकशः: many times/in many ways
• अनेकशः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सुलक्षणानि: good signs
• सुलक्षणानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (सु + लक्षण)

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मयि: in me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; सप्तमी (Case 7), एकवचन

• सन्ति: are/exist
• सन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धातु √अस् (तिङन्त)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; √अस् (to be)

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Garuda (Khageshvara), addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious/inauspicious signs can coexist; evaluation is comparative and contextual rather than absolute.

Vedantic Theme: Dualities (śubha-aśubha) belong to prakriti; wise discernment avoids fixation on externals.

Application: Hold assessments lightly; recognize mixed traits in oneself/others; prioritize conduct and devotion over superficial markers.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (contrast of su-lakshana and dur-lakshana; dialogic address to Garuda)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of lakṣaṇa (signs/marks) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames lakṣaṇas as indicators of auspiciousness or inauspiciousness, used to reflect one’s tendencies and karmic disposition rather than mere appearance.

How does this verse explain auspicious vs inauspicious indications (vāmādi)?

It contrasts durlakṣaṇa associated with “left-side and similar” indications in Garuda, while affirming the presence of multiple sulakṣaṇas in Vishnu—highlighting a scriptural language of omens and qualities.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat external ‘signs’ as prompts for inner correction—cultivate auspicious qualities (truthfulness, restraint, compassion) so one’s life becomes sulakṣaṇa in conduct, not merely in appearance.