Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

नाभिः प्रदक्षिणावर्ता मध्यं त्रिबलिशोभितम् / अरोमशौ स्तनौ पीनौ घनावविषमौ शुभौ

Transliteration

nābhiḥ pradakṣiṇāvartā madhyaṃ tribaliśobhitam / aromaśau stanau pīnau ghanāvaviṣamau śubhau

Translation

Le nombril tourne vers la droite (signe favorable) et la taille est ornée de trois plis gracieux. Les seins, sans poils, sont pleins, fermes, égaux et d’apparence propice.

Word by Word

• नाभिः: navel
• नाभिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रदक्षिणावर्ता: right-turning (clockwise)
• प्रदक्षिणावर्ता: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + दक्षिण + आवर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—नाभिः इति विशेष्यस्य

• मध्यम्: waist/midsection
• मध्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्रिबलिशोभितम्: adorned with three folds
• त्रिबलिशोभितम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + बलि + शोभित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—मध्यम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• अरोमशौ: hairless
• अरोमशौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + रोमश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण—स्तनौ इति विशेष्यस्य

• स्तनौ: (her) two breasts
• स्तनौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• पीनौ: full/plump
• पीनौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण—स्तनौ इति विशेष्यस्य

• घनौ: dense/firm
• घनौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण—स्तनौ इति विशेष्यस्य

• अविषमौ: not uneven (symmetrical)
• अविषमौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण—स्तनौ इति विशेष्यस्य

• शुभौ: auspicious/beautiful
• शुभौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण—स्तनौ इति विशेष्यस्य

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious bodily signs include right-turning spiral (dakṣiṇāvarta), graceful waist folds (tribali), and balanced fullness—markers of mangala in samudrika thought.

Vedantic Theme: Auspicious symbols (lakshana) operate in the realm of nama-rupa; the Self is beyond such marks (implicit contrast).

Application: Use ‘dakshinavarta/tribali’ as symbolic language for harmony and right-oriented living; avoid literalizing as standards of worth.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (navel/waist/breast features; repeated 'shubha' refrain)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious bodily marks (lakṣaṇa) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse illustrates how the Purāṇa uses lakṣaṇa—auspicious physical indicators (like a right-turning navel and triple waist-folds)—as traditional signs associated with beauty, fortune, and auspicious destiny.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it belongs to a lakṣaṇa-style description focusing on auspicious traits, reflecting the Purāṇa’s broader interest in dharma, signs, and outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder of the classical Indian focus on “auspiciousness” (śubha) and disciplined living—valuing harmony, balance, and dharmic conduct over mere appearance.