Shloka 79

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

Devanagari script

नृपत्वं स्याच्चतसृभिरायुः पञ्चनवत्यथ / अरेखेणायुर्नवतिर्विच्छिन्नाभिश्च पुंश्ललाः

Transliteration

nṛpatvaṃ syāccatasṛbhirāyuḥ pañcanavatyatha / arekheṇāyurnavatirvicchinnābhiśca puṃślalāḥ

Translation

Avec quatre lignes distinctes, on obtient la royauté; alors la durée de vie est de quatre-vingt-quinze ans. Sans ligne, la vie est de quatre-vingt-dix ans; et avec des lignes brisées, l’homme devient d’une virilité instable, comme mêlée et ambiguë.

Word by Word

• नृपत्वम्: kingship, royal status
• नृपत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपत्व (प्रातिपदिक; नृप + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भाववाचक-त्वप्रत्ययान्त

• स्यात्: would be / may become
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• चतसृभिः: with four (marks/lines)
• चतसृभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतस्/चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पञ्चनवतिः: ninety-five
• पञ्चनवतिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चनवति (प्रातिपदिक; पञ्च + नवति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• अथ: then/and
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connective/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थक (then/and now)

• अरेखेण: with a line-less (mark)
• अरेखेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरेख (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + रेख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; नञ्-समासपूर्वक (without a line)

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नवतिः: ninety
• नवतिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• विच्छिन्नाभिः: with broken/discontinuous (ones)
• विच्छिन्नाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + छिद् (धातु) → विच्छिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त)

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

• पुंश्ललाः: men (so described)
• पुंश्ललाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंश्लल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bodily marks (rekhā) are read as indicators of karmic fruition affecting lifespan and social power.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha-karma shaping the embodied condition (deha) and its allotted span (āyus).

Application: Use as a traditional diagnostic/reflective tool: interpret signs as prompts for ethical living and remedial devotion rather than fatalism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (lakṣaṇa/rekhā-phalāni context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily marks (rekhā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats specific lines/marks as karmic indicators that correlate with worldly outcomes like kingship and measurable longevity.

How does this verse relate to karma rather than superstition?

In Garuda Purana-style teaching, external signs are presented as effects of prior karmic patterns, used to infer likely results (status, lifespan) rather than to replace ethical duty.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to focus on dharma and disciplined living for stability and longevity, rather than obsessing over omens; outcomes are ultimately shaped by conduct and karmic momentum.