Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

अङ्गुष्ठमूलगा रेखाः पुत्राः सूक्ष्माश्च दारिकाः / प्रदेशिनीगता रेखा कनिष्ठामूलगामिनी

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭhamūlagā rekhāḥ putrāḥ sūkṣmāśca dārikāḥ / pradeśinīgatā rekhā kaniṣṭhāmūlagāminī

Translation

Les lignes à la base du pouce indiquent des fils, tandis que les lignes fines et délicates indiquent des filles. Une ligne qui se dirige vers l’index se prolonge jusqu’à la base de l’auriculaire.

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठ: of the thumb
• अङ्गुष्ठ: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• मूल: at the base
• मूल: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (sense: at the root/base)

• गाः: situated at the base of the thumb
• गाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle-like adjectival) / ‘ग’ धातोः (गम्/गाः-गमनार्थ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समासः—अङ्गुष्ठ-मूल-ग (तत्पुरुषः: ‘अङ्गुष्ठस्य मूले गता’)

• रेखाः: lines
• रेखाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Pradhana-Visheshya (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विधेय (predicate-noun)

• सूक्ष्माः: subtle/small
• सूक्ष्माः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; ‘पुत्राः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

• दारिकाः: daughters/girls
• दारिकाः: Pradhana-Visheshya (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विधेय (predicate-noun)

• प्रदेशिनी: of the index finger
• प्रदेशिनी: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदेशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (finger-name: index finger)

• गता: gone/located (in)
• गता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle) ‘गम्’ धातोः, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—प्रदेशिनी-गता (तत्पुरुषः: ‘प्रदेशिन्यां गता’)

• रेखा: a line
• रेखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• कनिष्ठा: of the little finger
• कनिष्ठा: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (little finger)

• मूल: at the base
• मूल: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• गामिनी: going to/ending at the base of the little finger
• गामिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—णिनि (agentive/possessive adjectival) ‘गम्’ धातोः, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—कनिष्ठा-मूल-गामिनी (तत्पुरुषः: ‘कनिष्ठायाः मूले गामिनी’)

Speaker

Likely Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda), but not confirmable from the single-verse excerpt alone

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied signs (rekhā) are read as indicators of progeny and life-patterns—karmic fruition expressed through subtle bodily features.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha-karma shaping the body-mind instrument; the seer reads patterns while the Self remains untouched.

Application: Use such readings cautiously as cultural diagnostics; prioritize responsible family planning, care for children, and avoid fatalism by emphasizing present effort (puruṣakāra).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65.49-51, 1.65.53 (same rekhā/lakṣaṇa sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of palm lines (rekhā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bodily marks—specifically lines near finger bases—as traditional indicators used to infer outcomes such as progeny (sons or daughters).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey; it focuses on omenology/palm-line indications related to offspring.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a record of traditional cultural diagnostics rather than determinism; prioritize dharma and responsible family life over predictive certainty.