Shloka 4

Strīlakṣaṇa: Auspicious Marks, Domestic Ideals, and Saubhāgya Practices

Devanagari script

पूर्णचन्द्रमुखी कन्या बालसूर्यसमप्रभा / विशालनेत्रा बिम्बोष्ठी सा कन्या लभते सुखम्

Transliteration

pūrṇacandramukhī kanyā bālasūryasamaprabhā / viśālanetrā bimboṣṭhī sā kanyā labhate sukham

Translation

जिस कन्या का मुख पूर्णचन्द्र-सा हो, जो उदय होते सूर्य-सी प्रभा वाली हो, जिसकी आँखें विशाल हों और होंठ बिंब-फल जैसे हों—वह कन्या सुख पाती है।

Word by Word

• पूर्णचन्द्रमुखी: with a full-moon-like face
• पूर्णचन्द्रमुखी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मुखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुषः (पूर्णचन्द्रवत् मुखं यस्याः)

• कन्या: girl
• कन्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बालसूर्यसमप्रभा: having radiance like the morning sun
• बालसूर्यसमप्रभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुषः (बालसूर्येण समा प्रभा यस्याः)

• विशालनेत्रा: large-eyed
• विशालनेत्रा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (विशाले नेत्रे यस्याः)

• बिम्बोष्ठी: with bimba-fruit-like lips
• बिम्बोष्ठी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + ओष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (बिम्बवत् ओष्ठौ यस्याः)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कन्या: girl
• कन्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śubha-lakṣaṇa (full-moon face, sunrise radiance, wide eyes, bimba lips) are linked to sukha (happiness) in life.

Vedantic Theme: Śrī and sukha as fruits within saṃsāra when dharma and auspicious conditions align; beauty as a signifier of harmony (not ultimate truth).

Application: Use as poetic appreciation; in modern life, separate worth from appearance while valuing well-being, kindness, and supportive relationships.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.64 (catalog of auspicious feminine marks)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious signs (lakshanas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents auspicious physical characteristics as indicators associated with a life of well-being, stating that such traits correlate with the attainment of happiness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

This particular verse does not describe the post-death journey; it focuses on worldly outcomes (sukha) connected to auspicious traits, within the broader didactic style of the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a traditional teaching on auspiciousness and well-being, and apply the broader dharmic takeaway: cultivate qualities that support harmony and happiness rather than fixating solely on external marks.