Shloka 14

Strīlakṣaṇa: Auspicious Marks, Domestic Ideals, and Saubhāgya Practices

Devanagari script

स्निग्धोन्नतौ ताम्रनखौ नार्याश्च चरणौ शुभौ / मत्स्याङ्कुशाब्जचिह्नौ च चक्रलाङ्गललक्षितौ

Transliteration

snigdhonnatau tāmranakhau nāryāśca caraṇau śubhau / matsyāṅkuśābjacihnau ca cakralāṅgalalakṣitau

Translation

Les pieds auspicious de la femme sont lisses et légèrement relevés, aux ongles rouge cuivre ; ils portent les marques d’un poisson, d’un aṅkuśa (aiguillon) et d’un lotus, et se distinguent aussi par les signes du cakra et de la charrue.

Word by Word

• स्निग्धोन्नतौ: smooth and elevated
• स्निग्धोन्नतौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध + उन्नत (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (स्निग्धौ च उन्नतौ च) विशेषणम्

• ताम्रनखौ: having coppery nails
• ताम्रनखौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र + नख (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्मधारयः (ताम्राः नखाः यस्य) विशेषणम्

• नार्याः: of a woman
• नार्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• चरणौ: feet
• चरणौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• शुभौ: auspicious
• शुभौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण

• मत्स्याङ्कुशाब्जचिह्नौ: marked with fish, goad, and lotus signs
• मत्स्याङ्कुशाब्जचिह्नौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्स्य + अङ्कुश + अब्ज + चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वसमासः (मत्स्य-चिह्नौ, अङ्कुश-चिह्नौ, अब्ज-चिह्नौ) विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• चक्रलाङ्गललक्षितौ: distinguished/marked by a discus and plough
• चक्रलाङ्गललक्षितौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्र + लाङ्गल + लक्षित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुषः (चक्रेण लाङ्गलेन च लक्षितौ)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious marks (matsya, aṅkuśa, padma, cakra, lāṅgala) signify prosperity and благоприятность; the body is read as a text of karmic merit.

Vedantic Theme: Punya manifesting as auspicious embodiment; śrī as a sign of dharmic alignment; symbolic resonance with Viṣṇu (cakra).

Application: Traditional: use as part of auspiciousness discourse in marriage/household contexts; modern: appreciate as cultural aesthetics and symbolism without determinism; focus on cultivating virtues associated with śrī—generosity, steadiness, compassion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.64.13 (bodily care and auspicious outcomes); Garuda Purana 1.64.10-12 (contrasting inauspicious signs)

FAQs

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

This verse treats bodily marks as traditional indicators of śubha (auspiciousness) and character, used to evaluate harmony and fortune in household life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not address the soul’s post-death journey here; instead, it belongs to a lakṣaṇa (physiognomy) context describing auspicious signs in embodied life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a cultural-archival description of traditional sign-lore; prioritize ethical conduct and dharma over bodily omens when making life decisions.