Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

दीर्घाः स्तनान्तरं बाहुदन्तलोचननासिकाः / नराणां लक्षणं प्रोक्तं वदामि स्त्रीषु लक्षणम्

Transliteration

dīrghāḥ stanāntaraṃ bāhudantalocananāsikāḥ / narāṇāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ proktaṃ vadāmi strīṣu lakṣaṇam

Translation

Having described the marks of men—such as the length of the limbs, the interval between the breasts, the arms, the teeth, the eyes, and the nose—I shall now speak of the distinguishing signs found in women.

Word by Word

• dīrghāḥ: long
• dīrghāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• stanāntaram: space between the breasts
• stanāntaram: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana + antara (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (stanayoḥ antara = space between breasts)

• bāhu-danta-locana-nāsikāḥ: arms, teeth, eyes, and noses
• bāhu-danta-locana-nāsikāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu + danta + locana + nāsikā (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (arms, teeth, eyes, noses)

• narāṇām: of men
• narāṇām: Shashthi-Sambandha (Possessive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• lakṣaṇam: characteristic, mark
• lakṣaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• proktam: said, declared
• proktam: Kriya-Visheshana (Predicate adjective/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prokta (कृदन्त; √vac्, क्त; pra- उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• vadāmi: I speak, I tell
• vadāmi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• strīṣu: among women
• strīṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• lakṣaṇam: characteristic
• lakṣaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Classification of human traits by gender as part of traditional social knowledge (vyavahāra-vidyā).

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa differentiation (male/female bodily forms) within prakṛti; Self remains unspoken but implied as beyond categories.

Application: Read as historical anthropology; apply the meta-skill—structured observation and careful categorization—ethically and without stereotyping.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65.92-93 (female/royal auspicious marks, especially feet)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of lakṣaṇa (bodily marks) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse signals a structured teaching where Vishnu classifies observable bodily features as “lakṣaṇas,” first for men and then for women, as part of a broader traditional framework of identifying characteristics.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it functions as a transition within a discourse on human characteristics, shifting from male marks to female marks.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a historical-textual insight into classical lakṣaṇa traditions, while prioritizing ethical conduct (dharma) over external appearance in personal judgment.