Shloka 11

Strīlakṣaṇa: Auspicious Marks, Domestic Ideals, and Saubhāgya Practices

Devanagari script

यस्या अनामिकाङ्गुष्ठौ पृथिव्यां नैव तिष्ठतः / पतिं मारयते क्षिप्रं स्वेच्छाचारेण वर्तते

Transliteration

yasyā anāmikāṅguṣṭhau pṛthivyāṃ naiva tiṣṭhataḥ / patiṃ mārayate kṣipraṃ svecchācāreṇa vartate

Translation

A woman whose ring finger and thumb do not properly rest upon the earth as prescribed quickly brings about her husband’s death, for she lives by self-willed, undisciplined conduct.

Word by Word

• यस्या: whose (of whom)
• यस्या: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• अनामिका: ring finger
• अनामिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनामिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; (समुच्चित-द्वन्द्वे अङ्गुष्ठौ इति सह)

• अङ्गुष्ठौ: thumbs
• अङ्गुष्ठौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• पृथिव्याम्: on the ground
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• एव: indeed, at all
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• तिष्ठतः: stand, remain
• तिष्ठतः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मारयते: causes to die, kills
• मारयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु) → मारय (णिच्-प्रयोजक)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; णिच् (causative)

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• स्वेच्छाचारेण: by self-willed conduct
• स्वेच्छाचारेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + इच्छा + आचार (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वेच्छा एव आचारः)

• वर्तते: behaves, acts
• वर्तते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Self-willed conduct (svacchācāra) is portrayed as destructive to household stability; bodily signs are used as narrative proof of moral disorder.

Vedantic Theme: Adharma leading to duḥkha; the household as a karmic arena where restraint (niyama) preserves harmony.

Application: Traditional: uphold restraint, fidelity, and household discipline; modern: read critically as patriarchal omen-literature, focus on mutual ethics and non-violence rather than blaming bodily traits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.64.10, 1.64.12 (similar structure: bodily sign + consequence + svacchācāra)

FAQs

What is the importance of self-discipline (svecchācāra-avoidance) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links self-willed, undisciplined conduct with harmful karmic outcomes in family life, emphasizing restraint and dharmic behavior as protective.

How does this verse explain karma operating within household life?

It presents a cause-and-effect view where improper conduct and neglect of prescribed norms are said to manifest as suffering for close relations, especially the spouse.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steadiness, fidelity, and responsible conduct; treat traditional “omens” as prompts for self-correction rather than superstition, and prioritize ethical behavior in relationships.