Shloka 112

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

Devanagari script

कनिष्ठिकानामिका वा यस्या न स्पृशते महीम् / अङ्गुष्ठं वा गतातीत्य तर्जनी कुलटा च सा

Transliteration

kaniṣṭhikānāmikā vā yasyā na spṛśate mahīm / aṅguṣṭhaṃ vā gatātītya tarjanī kulaṭā ca sā

Translation

La femme dont l’auriculaire et l’annulaire ne touchent pas le sol, ou dont l’index dépasse le pouce, doit être tenue pour une kulaṭā, une femme débauchée.

Word by Word

• कनिष्ठिका-नामिका: the little finger and the ring finger
• कनिष्ठिका-नामिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठिका (प्रातिपदिक) + नामिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (समाहार/इतरेतर) ‘कनिष्ठिका च नामिका च’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

• यस्याः: of whom / whose
• यस्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negation)

• स्पृशते: touches
• स्पृशते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• महीम्: the ground
• महीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अङ्गुष्ठम्: the thumb
• अङ्गुष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्ययम्

• गता: having gone
• गता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; (तर्जनी इत्यस्य) विशेषणम्

• अतीत्य: having passed beyond
• अतीत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति + इ (धातु) → अतीत्य (क्त्वान्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (gerund) ‘अतिक्रम्य’

• तर्जनी: the index finger
• तर्जनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्जनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कुलटा: unchaste woman
• कुलटा: Predicate (Vidheya/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (predicate noun)

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

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Physical markers are used to infer character and sexual conduct, aligning with a prescriptive social ethic.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa/saṃskāra inference from external signs (a non-Vedāntic but culturally adjacent idea); highlights tension between inner self and social judgment.

Application: Read critically as historical social normativity; in modern use, avoid character judgments from anatomy and uphold dignity and consent-based ethics.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65.111-113 (women’s bodily marks and inferred outcomes/traits)

FAQs

What is the importance of this topic in Garuda Purana?

This verse appears in the Ācāra (conduct) section, presenting traditional markers used in older dharma-style literature to judge personal character and social propriety.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it frames ethical/social conduct, which the Garuda Purana treats as influencing karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a historical-cultural reference rather than a literal diagnostic; the broader takeaway is to cultivate integrity and restraint, which the text links with dharmic living.