Shloka 51

Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life

Devanagari script

कर्णे कुक्षौ नासिकाकेशपाशे गुल्फे भगे किञ्चिदाधिक्यमस्ति / इन्द्रो युक्तः पञ्चविंशत्या खगेन्द्र सदा हीनो लक्षणैः सप्तसंख्यैः

Transliteration

karṇe kukṣau nāsikākeśapāśe gulphe bhage kiñcidādhikyamasti / indro yuktaḥ pañcaviṃśatyā khagendra sadā hīno lakṣaṇaiḥ saptasaṃkhyaiḥ

Translation

En la oreja, el vientre, la nariz, el mechón de cabello, el tobillo y el órgano genital hay un leve exceso (de medida o señal). Oh Khagendra, Indra está dotado de veinticinco rasgos, pero siempre carece de siete marcas.

Word by Word

• karṇe: in the ear
• karṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kukṣau: in the two flanks
• kukṣau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kukṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• nāsikā-keśa-pāśe: in the nose and hair-tresses
• nāsikā-keśa-pāśe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāsikā (प्रातिपदिक) + keśa (प्रातिपदिक) + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); Dvandva (itaretara): 'in nose and hair-tresses' (as a combined locus)

• gulphe: in the ankle
• gulphe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gulpha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhage: in the sexual organ
• bhage: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kiñcit: a little/somewhat
• kiñcit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiñcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Indeclinable quantifier (परिमाणवाचक अव्यय)

• ādhikyam: excess/superiority
• ādhikyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādhikya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• asti: is
• asti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yuktaḥ: endowed
• yuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• pañcaviṃśatyā: with twenty-five
• pañcaviṃśatyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcaviṃśati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• khaga-indra: O king of birds
• khaga-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: 'king of birds'

• sadā: always
• sadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• hīnaḥ: deficient
• hīnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• lakṣaṇaiḥ: by/with marks
• lakṣaṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sapta-saṃkhyaiḥ: by seven (in number)
• sapta-saṃkhyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदik) + saṃkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) base saṃkhyā; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); Tatpuruṣa: 'of seven in number'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Quantified assessment of bodily measures/marks (slight excess in specified parts) and typological classification (Indra-type with 25 features yet 7 deficiencies).

Vedantic Theme: Embodiment as a field of observable patterns (vyavahāra); distinction between descriptive signs and ultimate reality (paramārtha) implied by the genre’s limits.

Application: For traditional practitioners: focus on consistent measurement points; record both strengths (present marks) and deficits (missing marks) to avoid one-sided judgment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22.50-54 (continuing lakṣaṇa lists and comparative typologies)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Garuda (Khagendra)

FAQs

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

This verse treats lakṣaṇas as measurable indicators located at specific bodily points, used to classify or assess a being’s condition and qualities within the Purana’s subtle-body framework.

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

By emphasizing specific “marks” and their counts, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader idea that the post-death state involves a subtle form with definable features, which can reflect one’s status and karmic condition during the journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages careful study of scriptural categories and a focus on ethical living (dharma), since the tradition links one’s post-death condition to qualities cultivated through conduct and observance.