Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

पुत्राः शुक्रे मत्स्यगन्धे तनुशुक्रे च कन्यकाः / महाभोगी मांसगन्धे यज्वा स्यान्मदगन्धिनि

Transliteration

putrāḥ śukre matsyagandhe tanuśukre ca kanyakāḥ / mahābhogī māṃsagandhe yajvā syānmadagandhini

Translation

If the semen bears a fish-like odor, sons are born; if the semen is thin, daughters are born. If it has a flesh-like odor, the child becomes a great enjoyer of pleasures; and if it smells of intoxicants, the child becomes a yajvā, devoted to sacrificial rites and offerings.

Word by Word

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• शुक्रे: in semen
• शुक्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• मत्स्यगन्धे: in fishy smell
• मत्स्यगन्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य-गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक; मत्स्य + गन्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तनुशुक्रे: in thin/watery semen
• तनुशुक्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु-शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक; तनु + शुक्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

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

• कन्यकाः: daughters/maidens
• कन्यकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• महाभोगी: a great enjoyer (sensualist)
• महाभोगी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक; महा + भोगिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• मांसगन्धे: in meat-smell
• मांसगन्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस-गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक; मांस + गन्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• यज्वा: a sacrificer (one who performs yajña)
• यज्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज् (धातु) + वन्/वृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक: यज्वन्)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिकः (agent noun: sacrificer); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• मदगन्धिनि: in intoxicant smell
• मदगन्धिनि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद-गन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक; मद + गन्धिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Progeny and temperament are framed as karmically patterned outcomes, inferred through bodily signs.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha shaping embodiment and social role (putra/duhitṛ, bhogī, yajvā).

Application: Treat such omen-reading as cultural text; in practice, focus on reproductive health, hygiene, and ethical family planning rather than deterministic conclusions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (continuation of odor-based prognostics; adjacent verses on body odor, sexual traits, and wealth signs)

FAQs

What is the importance of progeny-signs (nimitta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents traditional indicators used to infer the likely outcome of conception—sons/daughters and certain tendencies—showing how the text links bodily signs with predicted results in household life (gṛhastha-dharma).

How does this verse explain karma or destiny in relation to birth?

By correlating physical characteristics with the nature of offspring, it reflects the Purāṇic idea that embodied conditions and future dispositions manifest through observable signs, consistent with karmic causation operating through the body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical-Puranic diagnostic/omen tradition; practically, it can encourage attention to health and lifestyle before conception while keeping ethical living (dharma) central rather than relying on omens alone.