Shloka 8
Strīlakṣaṇa: Auspicious Marks, Domestic Ideals, and Saubhāgya Practices
यस्यास्तु रोमशौ पार्श्वौ रोमशौ च पयोधरौ / अन्नतौ चाधरोष्ठौ च क्षिप्रं मारयते पतिम्
yasyāstu romaśau pārśvau romaśau ca payodharau / annatau cādharoṣṭhau ca kṣipraṃ mārayate patim
A woman whose flanks are hairy, whose breasts are hairy, and whose lower lip is thick is said to bring about her husband’s death swiftly.
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Certain bodily traits are treated as inauspicious indicators linked to harmful outcomes for the spouse (widowhood/early death of husband).
Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala interpreted through nimitta; highlights the Purāṇic tendency to read fate through embodied signs (though ultimately all is under īśvara and karma).
Application: Historically used as a caution in matchmaking; modern use should avoid stigmatization—treat as cultural artifact, not medical or moral truth.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: household (marital context implied)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.64 (inauspicious strī-lakṣaṇa subsections)
FAQs
This verse treats bodily signs as traditional indicators used to infer auspiciousness or risk in household life, reflecting the text’s broader concern with dharma and consequences.
It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it frames worldly outcomes (like a husband’s longevity) as connected to perceived auspicious/inauspicious signs within dharmic life.
Read it as a historical doctrine of omen-literature: prioritize ethical conduct, mutual care, and responsible choices in marriage rather than judging character or fate by physical features.