Matsya Purana — The Strategy to Defeat Tāraka: Pārvatī’s Birth, Shloka 169

Devanagari script

मनुष्यदेवजातीनां शुभाशुभनिवेदकम् लक्षणं हस्तपादादौ विहितैर्लक्षणैः किल //

Transliteration

manuṣyadevajātīnāṃ śubhāśubhanivedakam lakṣaṇaṃ hastapādādau vihitairlakṣaṇaiḥ kila //

Translation

Pour les catégories d’êtres humains et divins, on dit que les marques (lakṣaṇa) aux mains, aux pieds et autres membres indiquent l’auspice et le néfaste, selon les canons établis des signes.

Word by Word

• मनुष्य (manuṣya): human

• देवजातीनाम् (devajātīnāṁ): of the divine classes / divine beings

• शुभ (śubha): auspicious

• अशुभ (aśubha): inauspicious

• निवेदकम् (nivedakam): indicating, making known

• लक्षणम् (lakṣaṇam): mark, characteristic sign

• हस्त (hasta): hand

• पाद (pāda): foot

• आदौ (ādau): and the rest / beginning with

• विहितैः (vihitaiḥ): prescribed, laid down

• लक्षणैः (lakṣaṇaiḥ): by the signs / marks

• किल (kila): indeed, it is said.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Manuṣya (humans)
• Devajāti (divine classes)

Tags

• Samudrika
• Physiognomy
• Omens
• Pratima Lakshana
• Auspicious Signs

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it introduces a diagnostic doctrine of bodily signs (especially hands and feet) used to judge auspiciousness and inauspiciousness for humans and divine types.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It supports traditional decision-making—choosing suitable persons for marriage, service, priestly roles, or royal appointment—by consulting recognized lakṣaṇas that signify prosperity or misfortune.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Indirectly, it aligns with Pratima-lakṣaṇa (iconographic standards): just as images and ritual objects follow prescribed marks, so too bodily marks are treated as canonically defined indicators in ritual-ethical evaluation.