Shloka 17

Purusha-Strī-Lakṣaṇa (Samudrika-śāstra): Marks of Kingship, Wealth, Longevity, and Conduct

Devanagari script

दक्षिणावर्तचलितमूत्रा भिश्च नृपाः स्मृताः / विकीर्णमूत्रा निः स्वाश्च प्रधानसुखदायिकाः

Transliteration

dakṣiṇāvartacalitamūtrā bhiśca nṛpāḥ smṛtāḥ / vikīrṇamūtrā niḥ svāśca pradhānasukhadāyikāḥ

Translation

Kings are remembered as those whose urine flows in a rightward course; but those whose urine is scattered are said to be destitute. These signs are regarded as chief indicators that point to—and bestow—happiness and prosperity.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणावर्तचलितमूत्राः: those whose urination moves in a rightward spiral
• दक्षिणावर्तचलितमूत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + आवर्त (प्रातिपदिक) + चलित (कृदन्त; चल् धातु) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'right-turning' + 'moving' + 'urination' (as descriptor)

• भिः: (textual corruption)
• भिः: Sambandha (Textual residue/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भि (अव्यय/पाठदोष)
• Form: पाठभ्रंश; सम्भवतः 'एभिः' (तृतीया बहुवचन) अथवा पूर्वपद-समाप्ति

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

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

• स्मृताः: are remembered/are said to be
• स्मृताः: Karma (Predicate participle/कर्म-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विकीर्णमूत्राः: those with scattered urination
• विकीर्णमूत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + कीर्ण (कृदन्त; कृ धातु/किर् धातु-सम्भव) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'scattered' + 'urination'

• निःस्वाः: poor
• निःस्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• प्रधानसुखदायिकाः: givers of excellent happiness
• प्रधानसुखदायिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + दायिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; प्रधान-सुख-दायिक (giving chief happiness)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Subtle bodily patterns are read as karmic indicators of sovereignty or poverty; prosperity is framed as signaled by embodied order vs dispersion.

Vedantic Theme: Order (niyati) in prārabdha expresses as bodily regularity; yet ultimate worth is not reducible to bodily marks.

Application: Use the teaching as a reminder to cultivate orderliness and health; avoid judging others by bodily signs; focus on ethical means of prosperity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (lakṣaṇa-based status indicators)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily omens (śakuna/lakṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats certain involuntary bodily patterns as traditional indicators of one’s worldly station—such as rulership or poverty—showing that the text also preserves omen-lore alongside dharma teachings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it focuses on in-life indicators of fortune and status, which in the broader Purana are often linked to prior karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a cultural record of traditional physiognomy/omen interpretation; for ethical living, prioritize dharma and karma over omens when making decisions.