Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 17
Chapter 242 — पुरुषलक्षणं
Purusha-Lakshana): Marks of a Man (Physiognomy
सूक्ष्माण्यङ्गुलिपर्वाणि नखकेशद्विजत्वचः हनू नेत्रे ललाटे च नासा दीर्घा स्तनान्तरं
sūkṣmāṇyaṅguliparvāṇi nakhakeśadvijatvacaḥ hanū netre lalāṭe ca nāsā dīrghā stanāntaraṃ
The finger-joints should be fine and well-proportioned; the nails, hair, and teeth should be bright, and the skin clear. The jaws, eyes, and forehead should be well-formed; the nose should be long, and the space between the breasts well-defined.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Assessment of bodily marks (lakshana) for health, vitality, and auspicious constitution—used in examination, selection (e.g., for marriage/royal service), and baseline health appraisal.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Auspicious bodily features—fine joints, bright nails/hair/teeth, clear skin, well-formed face parts","lookup_keywords":["lakshana-shastra","samudrika","anguli-parva","prasanna-tvaca","dirgha-nasa"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates desirable proportional and luminous features—fine finger-joints, bright nails/hair/teeth, clear skin, well-formed jaw/eyes/forehead, long nose, and defined inter-mammary space."}
Concept: Lakshana as a readable index of inner balance (dhatu-sampat) and auspicious constitution.
Application: Guides systematic observation—structure (parva), luster (tejas), and clarity (prasada) as practical markers.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Lakṣaṇa-śāstra: physiognomy and bodily marks)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A composed figure is shown with refined finger joints, bright nails/hair/teeth, clear skin, well-formed jaw/eyes/forehead, a long nose, and a clearly defined space between the breasts—presented like a physiognomic chart.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal standing figure with emphasized facial harmony and long nose, delicate hands with fine joints, subtle highlights on teeth and nails, palm-leaf manuscript margins with small Sanskrit labels for each feature.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style portrait of an ideal auspicious person, gold halo-like ornamentation, jewel-toned clothing, gold accents highlighting nails and facial features, lotus border motifs, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional plate: close-ups of hand joints, teeth, hair, skin texture, and facial proportions; thin gold detailing, soft pastel background, annotated Sanskrit terms.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined portrait study with naturalistic shading, attention to facial proportions and hands, delicate rendering of hair and teeth brightness, minimal background with calligraphic cartouche labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सूक्ष्माण्यङ्गुलिपर्वाणि → सूक्ष्माणि + अङ्गुलिपर्वाणि.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 242 (Lakshana-shastra/Samudrika subsection)
FAQs
It imparts lakṣaṇa-śāstra (diagnostic physiognomy): a checklist of bodily features—fingers, nails, hair, teeth, skin, facial proportions, and chest spacing—used to assess health, constitution, and auspicious bodily traits.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves applied knowledge resembling Ayurvedic observation and social diagnostics, cataloging physical indicators as a practical ‘handbook’ topic alongside other sciences.
In Purāṇic thought, auspicious bodily marks are often treated as signs of accumulated merit (puṇya) and favorable destiny, encouraging cultivation of purity and right living associated with such outcomes.