Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

चत्वारिंशच्च वक्राभिस्त्रिंशद्भ्रूलग्नगामिभिः / विंशतिर्वामवक्रा भिरायुः क्षुद्राभिरल्पकम्

Transliteration

catvāriṃśacca vakrābhistriṃśadbhrūlagnagāmibhiḥ / viṃśatirvāmavakrā bhirāyuḥ kṣudrābhiralpakam

Translation

Con cuarenta (líneas) curvadas, treinta que suben y se adhieren hasta las cejas, y veinte que se inclinan hacia la izquierda, se dice que la vida es escasa y breve. Con líneas pequeñas, la vida es aún menor.

Word by Word

• चत्वारिंशत्: forty
• चत्वारिंशत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• वक्राभिः: with curved (ones)
• वक्राभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• त्रिंशत्: thirty
• त्रिंशत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• भ्रूलग्नगामिभिः: with those attached/going to the eyebrows
• भ्रूलग्नगामिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रू + लग्न + गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सामान्यतः पुंलिङ्ग), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; भ्रूषु लग्नाः (attached to the eyebrows) इति; गामिन् = गम् (धातु) + इनि (प्रत्यय)

• विंशतिः: twenty
• विंशतिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विंशति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• वामवक्राभिः: with left-curving (ones)
• वामवक्राभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम + वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; वामं वक्रं (left-curved)

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• क्षुद्राभिः: with small (ones)
• क्षुद्राभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अल्पकम्: little, small
• अल्पकम्: Visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain bodily line-configurations are read as signs of diminished āyus (short lifespan).

Vedantic Theme: Duhkha and impermanence of saṃsāra; prārabdha limits the body’s duration.

Application: Let awareness of mortality motivate dharma, reconciliation, and intensified remembrance of the divine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (āyus-lakṣaṇa series)

FAQs

What is the importance of lifespan signs in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents traditional physiognomic indicators—specific counts and directions of curved lines/marks—used to infer ‘alpa āyuḥ’ (short lifespan) within the text’s broader framework of omens and karmic outcomes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by stating that certain bodily signs indicate a short life, it implies an earlier encounter with death and the post-death journey discussed elsewhere in the Garuda Purana, linking embodied features with karmic destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder of life’s uncertainty: prioritize dharma, ethical conduct, and timely spiritual practice rather than relying on longevity assumptions.