Shloka 9

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

Forehead & Palm

Devanagari script

निः स्वाः सशब्दमूत्राः स्युर्नृपा निःशब्दधारया / भोगाढ्याः समजठरा निः स्वाः स्युर्घटसन्निभाः

Transliteration

niḥ svāḥ saśabdamūtrāḥ syurnṛpā niḥśabdadhārayā / bhogāḍhyāḥ samajaṭharā niḥ svāḥ syurghaṭasannibhāḥ

Translation

Kings who become destitute pass urine with noise, whereas those with a silent stream are considered well-provided. Those rich in indulgence, with bellies grown uniformly large, become destitute too—appearing like pots.

Word by Word

• निःस्वाः: destitute
• निःस्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (निःस्वः = without wealth)

• सशब्दमूत्राः: having noisy urination
• सशब्दमूत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (शब्दयुक्तं मूत्रं येषाम्)

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

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• निःशब्दधारया: with a soundless stream
• निःशब्दधारया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निः (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (निःशब्दा धारा)

• भोगाढ्याः: rich in pleasures
• भोगाढ्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (भोगैः आढ्याः = rich in enjoyments)

• समजठराः: having an even belly
• समजठराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक) + जठर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (समं जठरं येषाम् = having an even belly)

• निःस्वाः: destitute
• निःस्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• स्युः: would be
• स्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• घटसन्निभाः: resembling a pot
• घटसन्निभाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घट (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (घट-सन्निभ = like a pot)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Indulgence (bhoga) and loss of true provision can accompany each other; bodily signs reveal imbalance and impending decline.

Vedantic Theme: Attachment (rāga) and sense-indulgence obscure discernment; the body as a transient vessel showing the cost of excess.

Application: Practice moderation in diet and pleasure; cultivate discipline and stewardship of resources to avoid decline masked by luxury.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: admonitions against bhoga and gluttony leading to suffering; Garuda Purana: teachings on bodily signs and consequences of adharma

FAQs

What is the importance of this teaching in Garuda Purana?

It warns that status (even kingship) is unstable and that indulgence and heedlessness can lead to decline; bodily signs are used as a moral illustration of karmic reversal.

How does this verse explain karmic consequence in daily life?

Rather than describing Yama’s punishments directly, it shows karma manifesting as loss of prosperity and bodily deterioration—an observable downfall tied to excess enjoyment and lack of restraint.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice moderation in pleasure, avoid arrogance in prosperity, and cultivate disciplined living and charity so wealth and power do not become causes of decline.