Shloka 66
Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life
सप्तलक्षणसंयुक्ता गन्धर्वा मानुषातमकाः / यैस्तु पञ्चविंशतिभिर्देषैः संयुक्ताः प्रकीर्तिताः
saptalakṣaṇasaṃyuktā gandharvā mānuṣātamakāḥ / yaistu pañcaviṃśatibhirdeṣaiḥ saṃyuktāḥ prakīrtitāḥ
ગંધર્વો માનવસદૃશ સ્વભાવવાળા, સાત લક્ષણોથી યુક્ત કહેવાય છે; અને પચ્ચીસ દોષોથી પણ સંયુક્ત તરીકે પ્રકીર્તિત છે।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Beings can be ‘human-like’ even in celestial realms; classification depends on observable marks and characteristic features.
Vedantic Theme: Jiva embodiment varies by karma and guna-mixture; forms differ while the witnessing Self remains distinct.
Application: Avoid simplistic binaries (human/divine); assess tendencies and conduct through consistent criteria.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22.65-69 (same classificatory sequence)
FAQs
It classifies subtle and celestial orders of beings with precise markers, helping the text map the afterlife cosmology and the kinds of entities encountered across otherworldly realms.
By detailing non-human yet human-like beings and their defining traits, it situates the soul’s journey within a populated subtle universe, where different classes of beings exist with distinct natures and functions.
Use it as a reminder that the tradition treats inner nature and qualities as defining—cultivate sattvic traits and disciplined conduct, since character is portrayed as a real marker across realms, not merely a social label.