Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

एकधाराश्च वनिताः स्निग्धैर्मणिभिरुन्नतैः / समैः स्त्रीरत्नधनिनो मध्ये निम्नैश्च कन्यकाः

Transliteration

ekadhārāśca vanitāḥ snigdhairmaṇibhirunnataiḥ / samaiḥ strīratnadhanino madhye nimnaiśca kanyakāḥ

Translation

Les femmes apparaissent en un seul jet continu, parées de gemmes lisses, brillantes et saillantes. Au milieu se tiennent ceux qui sont riches en femmes et en joyaux ; et dans les régions basses se voient les jeunes filles vierges.

Word by Word

• एकधाराः: single-streamed
• एकधाराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; एक-धारा (single-stream)

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

• वनिताः: women
• वनिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्निग्धैः: with smooth/oily (ones)
• स्निग्धैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मणिभिः: with gems
• मणिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• उन्नतैः: with raised/prominent (ones)
• उन्नतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्नत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• समैः: with even (ones)
• समैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्त्रीरत्नधनिनः: possessors of a jewel-like wife (fortunate in women)
• स्त्रीरत्नधनिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + धनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; स्त्री-रत्न-धनिन् (possessing a jewel-like wife/women)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (irregular locative form)

• निम्नैः: with low/depressed (ones)
• निम्नैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• कन्यकाः: maidens/girls
• कन्यकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Signs (streams/placement) and ornament qualities are mapped to life conditions (wealth in women/gems; maidenhood), reflecting karmic/social readings.

Vedantic Theme: Worldly markers (strī, ratna, dhana) belong to vyavahāra; cultivate non-attachment while honoring dharmic household life.

Application: Read as cultural omen-lore; in modern terms, avoid objectifying persons—treat prosperity and relationships with responsibility, consent, and dignity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (women/ornament and prognostic lakṣaṇa sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of this imagery in the Garuda Purana?

It conveys a karmic hierarchy through symbolic geography—“middle” and “lower” placements indicate graded states of experience shaped by prior actions and attachments.

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

It presents the subtle-world as structured into levels where beings encounter outcomes consistent with their tendencies and deeds, implying that post-death experience is not random but ordered by karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate restraint and ethical conduct so that desire and attachment do not dominate one’s life; prioritize dharma, charity, and self-discipline to refine one’s karmic trajectory.