Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

स्थूलाङ्गुलीभिर्निः स्वाः स्युर्नताः स्युः सुकृशैस्तदा / कपितुल्यकराः निः स्वा व्याघ्रतुल्यकरैर्बलम्

Transliteration

sthūlāṅgulībhirniḥ svāḥ syurnatāḥ syuḥ sukṛśaistadā / kapitulyakarāḥ niḥ svā vyāghratulyakarairbalam

Translation

Ceux dont les doigts sont épais tendent à la pauvreté ; et ceux qui se voûtent le deviennent lorsqu’ils sont trop émaciés. Des mains pareilles à celles du singe annoncent la misère, tandis que des mains pareilles à celles du tigre annoncent la force.

Word by Word

• स्थूल: thick/coarse
• स्थूल: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (स्थूलाङ्गुलीभिः)

• अङ्गुलीभिः: with thick fingers
• अङ्गुलीभिः: Hetu/Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः: स्थूल-अङ्गुली (कर्मधारय)

• निःस्वाः: poor/without wealth
• निःस्वाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; नञ्/उपसर्गपूर्वक-तत्पुरुष: निः-स्व (wealthless)

• स्युः: may be/are
• स्युः: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• नताः: bent/curved
• नताः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (कृदन्त; √नम् ‘नमने’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• स्युः: may be/are
• स्युः: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• सुकृशैः: with very thin (fingers/hands)
• सुकृशैः: Hetu/Instrument (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + कृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘सु’ उपसर्ग/उपपद (intensifier)

• तदा: then/at that time
• तदा: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• कपि: monkey
• कपि: Upamāna (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (कपितुल्यकराः)

• तुल्य: similar
• तुल्य: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासमध्यपद (कपि-तुल्य-कराः)

• कराः: hands
• कराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः: कपि-तुल्य-कर (तत्पुरुष)

• निःस्वाः: poor
• निःस्वाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• व्याघ्र: tiger
• व्याघ्र: Upamāna (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (व्याघ्रतुल्यकरैः)

• तुल्य: similar
• तुल्य: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासमध्यपद (व्याघ्र-तुल्य-करैः)

• करैः: with hands like a tiger's
• करैः: Hetu/Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः: व्याघ्र-तुल्य-कर (तत्पुरुष)

• बलम्: strength/power
• बलम्: Karma/Predicate complement (कर्म/विशेष्यपूरक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; वाक्ये फल/गुणवाचक (strength)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied markers are read as karmic indicators of prosperity (shri) or deprivation (daridrya) and of bala (strength).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-vipaka expressed through the body; relative outcomes within samsara.

Application: Treat ‘signs’ as prompts for self-improvement: build strength through discipline, avoid fatalism, and support those in hardship rather than stigmatizing them.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (continuation of hand/palm lakshanas)

FAQs

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

This verse treats certain physical features as outward indicators of inner disposition and karmic fruition—signs traditionally used to infer strength, hardship, or prosperity.

How does this verse relate to karma in the Garuda Purana?

By linking conditions like poverty or strength with visible traits, the text frames worldly circumstances as outcomes that can manifest in embodied form, consistent with karmic causality emphasized throughout the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Rather than judging others, take it as a reminder to build strength and stability through dharma—right conduct, discipline, and charity—so that one’s future conditions improve through wholesome karma.