Shloka 14

Lakṣaṇas of Men: Feet, Shanks, Hair, Genitals, Abdomen, and Lines of Longevity

Forehead & Palm

Devanagari script

चत्वारिंशच्च वर्षाणि हीनरेखस्तु जीवति / भिन्नाभिश्चैव रेखाभिरपमृत्युर्नरस्य हि

Transliteration

catvāriṃśacca varṣāṇi hīnarekhastu jīvati / bhinnābhiścaiva rekhābhirapamṛtyurnarasya hi

Translation

One who has deficient or faint lines is said to live for forty years; but when the lines are broken and irregular, an untimely death (apamṛtyu) befalls the man.

Word by Word

• चत्वारिंशत्: forty
• चत्वारिंशत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे (varṣāṇi इति विशेष्ये), द्वितीया, बहुवचनार्थे; संख्याविशेषण

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

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कालपरिमाण

• हीनरेखः: one with deficient lines
• हीनरेखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन + रेख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारय (हीना रेखा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेष/विरोधबोधक-अव्यय (particle)

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भिन्नाभिः: split/broken
• भिन्नाभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘भिद्’ से; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; रेखाभिः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणबोधक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• रेखाभिः: by/with lines
• रेखाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अपमृत्युः: untimely death
• अपमृत्युः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप + मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (अप- = अकाल/अनिष्ट); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नरस्य: of the man
• नरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: for/indeed)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Irregular/broken bodily signs are read as indicators of disrupted life-course—apamṛtyu—reflecting adverse karmic momentum and negligence risks.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla’s unpredictability within saṃsāra; turn from fear to surrender and right action.

Application: Treat warnings as impetus for prāyaścitta-like self-correction: reduce harmful habits, increase charity, prayer, and safety; prepare for death with dignity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa discussions on death, messengers of Yama, and consequences of papa (general thematic link); Garuda Purana 1.63.10–13 (continuation of āyus-lakṣaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of apamṛtyu (untimely death) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats apamṛtyu as a recognizable fate indicated by inauspicious bodily signs (broken/irregular lines), emphasizing preparedness and corrective living rather than complacency.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by stressing lifespan and death-timing indicators, it frames death as a pivotal transition—encouraging timely dharmic conduct and ritual readiness for what follows after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to live ethically, maintain health and discipline, and keep end-of-life duties (family responsibilities, charity, spiritual practice) in order rather than assuming long life.