Shloka 83

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

Devanagari script

घटमूर्धा पापरुचिर्धनाद्यैः परिवर्जितः / कृष्णैराकुञ्चितैः केशैः स्निग्धैरेकैकसम्भवैः

Transliteration

ghaṭamūrdhā pāparucirdhanādyaiḥ parivarjitaḥ / kṛṣṇairākuñcitaiḥ keśaiḥ snigdhairekaikasambhavaiḥ

Translation

He whose head is like a pot is drawn to sin and is deprived of wealth and the like. His hair is black, curled, glossy, and grows sparsely, appearing in small, solitary tufts.

Word by Word

• घटमूर्धा: having a pot-like head
• घटमूर्धा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घट + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; घट इव मूर्धा (pot-headed)

• पापरुचिः: of evil inclination
• पापरुचिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; पापा रुचिः (evil taste/liking)

• धनाद्यैः: with wealth and the like
• धनाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; धनम् आदिः येषाम् (wealth etc.)

• परिवर्जितः: deprived of / excluded from
• परिवर्जितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + वर्ज् (धातु) → परिवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त)

• कृष्णैः: with black (ones)
• कृष्णैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• आकुञ्चितैः: with curled (ones)
• आकुञ्चितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + कुञ्च् (धातु) → आकुञ्चित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त)

• केशैः: with hair
• केशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• स्निग्धैः: with glossy/oily (ones)
• स्निग्धैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• एकैकसम्भवैः: with those arising singly (one-by-one)
• एकैकसम्भवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकैक + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; एकैकात् सम्भवः (arising singly/one by one)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (describing the marks/forms of the sinful in the afterlife context) to Garuda

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Outer traits are linked (rightly or wrongly within the text’s worldview) to inner tendencies; pāpa-ruci leads to loss of wealth and well-being.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-karma interplay in embodied life; the need to transcend guṇas through sattva and devotion.

Application: Focus on correcting conduct (pāpa-ruci) through vows, good company, and devotion; avoid judging others solely by appearance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (lakṣaṇa-based character attributions)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing physical marks of sinners in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses bodily imagery to convey that persistent pāpa (sinful inclination) manifests as deprivation and deformity, reinforcing the Purana’s karma-based moral causality.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By portraying the degraded condition associated with sinful tendencies, it supports the broader Garuda Purana narrative that karma shapes one’s post-death experience and the forms encountered in Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharmic habits and restraint from harmful actions; the text’s message is that repeated choices shape one’s destiny and well-being, materially and spiritually.