Shloka 6

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

Forehead & Palm

Devanagari script

रोमत्रयं दरिद्राणां रोगी निर्मांसजानुकः / अल्पलिङ्गी च धनवान्स्याच्च पुत्रादिवर्जितः

Transliteration

romatrayaṃ daridrāṇāṃ rogī nirmāṃsajānukaḥ / alpaliṅgī ca dhanavānsyācca putrādivarjitaḥ

Translation

One who has only three body-hairs is said to be poor; one whose knees are without flesh becomes diseased. One with a small generative organ may be wealthy, yet he will be deprived of sons and other offspring.

Word by Word

• रोमत्रयम्: three hairs
• रोमत्रयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमन् (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयाणि रोमाणि = three hairs)

• दरिद्राणाम्: of the poor
• दरिद्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दरिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• रोगी: diseased
• रोगी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (one who is diseased)

• निर्मांसजानुकः: having fleshless knees
• निर्मांसजानुकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + जानु (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (निर्मांसं जानु यस्य)

• अल्पलिङ्गी: small-genitaled
• अल्पलिङ्गी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अल्पं लिङ्गं यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• धनवान्: wealthy
• धनवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (possessing wealth)

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पुत्रादिवर्जितः: deprived of sons and the like
• पुत्रादिवर्जितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त, √वृज्/वर्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पुत्रादिभिः वर्जितः = deprived of sons etc.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied marks are read as karmic indicators of artha (wealth), vyādhi (disease), and putra-bhāgya (progeny).

Vedantic Theme: Karma shaping embodiment (śarīra) and life-circumstances; prārabdha reflected in physical traits.

Application: Use the teaching as a prompt for compassion and prudent living: care for health, avoid judging others harshly, and strengthen dharma to counter adverse prārabdha.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: lakṣaṇa/phalita-style passages linking bodily marks to fortune; Garuda Purana: dāna and prayāścitta sections that propose remedies for adverse karma

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse treats certain physical traits as indicators of prior karma, linking visible features with outcomes like poverty, illness, and lack of progeny.

How does this verse explain karmic results related to wealth and children?

It presents a mixed karmic fruition: a person may attain wealth, yet still experience the separate karmic limitation of being without sons/offspring.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that life outcomes can be multifaceted; cultivate dharma, compassion, and responsible conduct rather than judging others solely by external traits.