Shloka 2

Lakṣaṇas of Men: Feet, Shanks, Hair, Genitals, Abdomen, and Lines of Longevity

Forehead & Palm

Devanagari script

श्लिष्टाङ्गुली ताम्रनखौ सुगुल्फौ शिरयोज्झितौ / कूर्मोन्नतौ च चरणौ स्यातां नृपवरस्य हि

Transliteration

śliṣṭāṅgulī tāmranakhau sugulphau śirayojjhitau / kūrmonnatau ca caraṇau syātāṃ nṛpavarasya hi

Translation

Un roi éminent doit avoir des pieds aux orteils serrés, aux ongles cuivrés, aux chevilles bien formées, aux veines apparentes, et des plantes relevées comme la carapace d’une tortue.

Word by Word

• श्लिष्टाङ्गुली: having close-set toes
• श्लिष्टाङ्गुली: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लिष्ट + अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय (‘joined/close toes’), विशेषण (qualifying चरणौ)

• ताम्रनखौ: with reddish nails
• ताम्रनखौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र + नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय (‘copper-reddish nails’), विशेषण

• सुगुल्फौ: well-ankled
• सुगुल्फौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + गुल्फ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘good ankles’), विशेषण

• शिरयोज्झितौ: vein-marked
• शिरयोज्झितौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिरा + योज्झित (युज्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (‘provided/marked with veins’), विशेषण

• कूर्मोन्नतौ: raised like a tortoise (arched)
• कूर्मोन्नतौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूर्म + उन्नत (उन्नत-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय (‘tortoise-like raised’), विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चरणौ: (two) feet
• चरणौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Nominative dual

• स्याताम्: should be
• स्याताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (सम्भावना/विधान), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; Optative 3rd dual

• नृपवरस्य: of the excellent king
• नृपवरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular (‘of the best king’)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ruler’s auspicious marks (close toes, coppery nails, firm ankles, prominent veins, tortoise-like raised soles) signify stability, endurance, and capacity to bear responsibility.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma of rulership (rāja-dharma) operates in vyavahāra; bodily symbolism encodes virtues like steadiness (sthiti) and resilience (dhṛti).

Application: For leadership, prioritize steadiness, resilience, and groundedness; interpret ‘tortoise-like’ as metaphor for stability and self-control.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.63 (rāja/nara-lakṣaṇa continuation)

FAQs

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

This verse treats physical features as traditional indicators of character and destiny, describing auspicious signs expected in an exemplary ruler.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to a lakshana (signs) section that outlines auspicious traits associated with worldly dharma, such as ideal kingship.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a cultural-ethical ideal: leadership should be evaluated by dharmic conduct and responsibility, while such bodily descriptions remain part of traditional symbolism rather than a sole basis for judgment.