Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

उन्नतैर्भोगिनो निम्नैर्निः स्वाः पीनैर्धनान्विताः / निः स्वश्चिपिटकण्ठः स्याच्छिराशुष्कगलः सुखी

Transliteration

unnatairbhogino nimnairniḥ svāḥ pīnairdhanānvitāḥ / niḥ svaścipiṭakaṇṭhaḥ syācchirāśuṣkagalaḥ sukhī

Translation

By the power of elevated, meritorious causes one becomes an enjoyer; by low, demeritorious causes one becomes destitute. Through what well nourishes the body one may be endowed with wealth; yet a poor man may have a flattened throat, and one whose veins are dried and whose throat is parched may still be happy.

Word by Word

• उन्नतैः: by/with elevated (ones)
• उन्नतैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्नत (कृदन्त; √नम्/नमति + उद्- उपसर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Instrumental plural, masculine)

• भोगिनः: enjoyers; wealthy persons
• भोगिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural, masculine)

• निम्नैः: by/with low (ones)
• निम्नैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Instrumental plural, masculine)

• निः: without
• निः: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निः (अव्यय; उपसर्ग/निपात)
• Form: निपातः; समासपूर्वपदत्वे ‘निः-’ (particle/prefix meaning ‘without’)

• स्वाः: property/wealth (one’s own)
• स्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; ‘स्व’ = धन/सम्पत्ति (Nominative plural, masculine)

• पीनैः: by/with stout/fat (ones)
• पीनैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Instrumental plural, masculine)

• धनान्विताः: endowed with wealth
• धनान्विताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ/एति with अनु-; ‘endowed with’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; ‘धनेन अन्विताः’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः (Nominative plural, masculine; endowed with wealth)

• निः: without
• निः: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निः (अव्यय; उपसर्ग/निपात)
• Form: निपातः; ‘निः-’ (particle/prefix)

• स्वः: (one) without property/wealth
• स्वः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘स्व’ = धन/सम्पत्ति (Nominative singular, masculine)

• चिपिटकण्ठः: one with a flat/sunken throat
• चिपिटकण्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिपिट + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—‘चिपिटः कण्ठः यस्य/यः’ (Nominative singular, masculine)

• स्यात्: may be; would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (may be/is likely to be)

• शिराः: vein/artery (or head)
• शिराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Vedic/irregular form for ‘शिरा’); ‘head-vein/artery’ sense possible (Nominative singular, feminine)

• शुष्कगलः: one with a dry throat/neck
• शुष्कगलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुष्क + गल (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—‘शुष्कः गलः यस्य/यः’ (Nominative singular, masculine)

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Nominative singular, masculine)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Merit and demerit shape enjoyment and destitution; external bodily signs and wealth do not perfectly map to inner happiness.

Vedantic Theme: Sukha is not identical with external upadhi (body/wealth); a hint toward vairagya and inner steadiness amid karmaphala.

Application: Avoid judging well-being solely by wealth or physique; cultivate contentment and ethical action to improve karmic trajectory.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/karma-phala discussions broadly; bodily marks and fate sections in the same adhyaya)

FAQs

What is the importance of karma and merit in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links life-conditions—enjoyment, wealth, or destitution—to “elevated” and “low” causes, underscoring karma as the moral engine behind worldly outcomes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By showing that embodied experience (pleasure, poverty, bodily vigor) follows prior causes, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader view that the jīva reaps results across lives until purified through dharma and right conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate “elevated” actions—ethical living, charity, self-restraint—while practicing contentment, since inner happiness is presented as possible even amid physical hardship.