Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

सर्पोदरा दरिद्राः स्युः पिठरैश्च घटैः समैः / धनिनो विपुलैः पार्श्वैर्निः स्वा रक्तैश्च निम्नगैः

Transliteration

sarpodarā daridrāḥ syuḥ piṭharaiśca ghaṭaiḥ samaiḥ / dhanino vipulaiḥ pārśvairniḥ svā raktaiśca nimnagaiḥ

Translation

Those with snake-like bellies become poor, their bodies likened to pots and jars. The wealthy, by contrast, have broad flanks, while the destitute are marked by reddish, sunken hollows.

Word by Word

• सर्पोदराः: snake-bellied
• सर्पोदराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्प-उदर (प्रातिपदिक; सर्प + उदर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• दरिद्राः: poor
• दरिद्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दरिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

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

• पिठरैः: with pot-bellies (jar-like)
• पिठरैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिठर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

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

• घटैः: with pots/jars
• घटैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• समैः: equal/like
• समैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (पिठरैः/घटैः इति)

• धनिनः: wealthy (people)
• धनिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• विपुलैः: with broad/large
• विपुलैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• पार्श्वैः: with sides/flanks
• पार्श्वैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• निःस्वाः: destitute
• निःस्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः-स्व (प्रातिपदिक; निः + स्व)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• रक्तैः: with red
• रक्तैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

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

• निम्नगैः: with low-going (depressed) ones
• निम्नगैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्नग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prosperity and deprivation are inferred from bodily proportions—belly, flanks, hollows—treated as karmic indicators.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala visible in embodiment; reminder that wealth/poverty are transient conditions within saṃsāra.

Application: Read as traditional physiognomy; in modern terms, note that extreme sunken hollows and discoloration can signal malnutrition/illness—respond with care, nutrition, and medical support rather than moral judgment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (continuation of bodily-lakṣaṇa series; preceding verse on waist/buttocks and wealth)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily signs (lakṣaṇas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bodily features as outward indicators of past karma, linking prosperity or poverty with visible marks on the body.

How does this verse explain karmic results in daily life?

It presents a cause-and-effect view where one’s prior actions manifest as embodied conditions—such as poverty with deformity or sunken features, and wealth with broader, fuller sides.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to act ethically and charitably, focusing on dharma and compassion rather than judging others by appearance.