Shloka 55

Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life

Devanagari script

द्वाविंशत्या लक्षणैः संयुतस्तु दशभिर्देषैः प्रवहो नाम वायुः / तथाङ्गुष्ठे किञ्चिदाधिक्यमस्ति विंशत्येकादशभिर्देषतोर्कः

Transliteration

dvāviṃśatyā lakṣaṇaiḥ saṃyutastu daśabhirdeṣaiḥ pravaho nāma vāyuḥ / tathāṅguṣṭhe kiñcidādhikyamasti viṃśatyekādaśabhirdeṣatorkaḥ

Translation

Le souffle vital nommé Pravaha est pourvu de vingt-deux signes et s’étend sur dix mesures (deśa). Dans le pouce, il y a un léger excédent ; et Arka, un autre courant vital, s’étend, selon la mesure, sur vingt et un deśa.

Word by Word

• dvāviṃśatyā: by twenty-two
• dvāviṃśatyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāviṃśati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; numeral ‘22’ used instrumentally

• lakṣaṇaiḥ: with marks/characteristics
• lakṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saṃyutaḥ: endowed/connected
• saṃyutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with vāyuḥ

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrastive

• daśabhiḥ: by ten
• daśabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; ‘ten’

• deṣaiḥ: by regions/places
• deṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• pravahaḥ: Pravaha (name/type)
• pravahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/apposition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/quotative (नाम-शब्दः), ‘called’

• vāyuḥ: wind (Vāyu)
• vāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• aṅguṣṭhe: in the thumb
• aṅguṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅguṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• kiñcit: a little
• kiñcit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/degree)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiñcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-नपुंसक)
• Form: Indeclinable quantifier (परिमाणवाचक अव्यय)

• ādhikyam: excess
• ādhikyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādhikya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• asti: is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular

• viṃśati-ekādaśabhiḥ: by thirty-one
• viṃśati-ekādaśabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक) + ekādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; dvandva numeral ‘(20 and 11) = 31’ used instrumentally

• deśataḥ: by regions/region-wise
• deśataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिल्-अर्थ), ‘from/according to region’

• arkaḥ: the Sun (Arka)
• arkaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prana-vayu differentiation and quantified extension (desa) as a means to understand embodied life-force.

Vedantic Theme: Ksetra–ksetrajna discernment: observing the body’s functions as knowable phenomena distinct from the knower.

Application: Use as a contemplative diagnostic map in pranayama/meditation: attend to pranic flow points (e.g., thumb/angustha) and cultivate detached observation of bodily currents.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: body-microcosm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (prana-vayu/laksana enumeration context)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu (vital winds)
• Pravaha
• Arka

FAQs

What is the importance of Pravaha vāyu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Pravaha as a specifically defined vital wind with a fixed set of characteristics and a measurable extent, showing that the Purana treats the subtle-body functions with technical precision relevant to the soul’s post-death journey.

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

By detailing named vāyus and their measures within the body, the text frames the departed being’s experience as governed by subtle physiological forces; these prāṇic currents support movement and sensation in the preta (subtle) condition described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages disciplined living and prāṇa-awareness (through ethical conduct, regulated habits, and prayer/meditation), recognizing that inner vitality is structured and consequential—an idea echoed in Garuda Purana discussions of death preparation and rites.