Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

भगे नेत्रे च हस्ते च स्तने कुक्षौ तथैव च / भारत्यपेक्षया पञ्चभिर्न्यूना त्वस्ति लक्षणैः

Transliteration

bhage netre ca haste ca stane kukṣau tathaiva ca / bhāratyapekṣayā pañcabhirnyūnā tvasti lakṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

Pada bagian kemaluan, mata, tangan, payudara, dan juga perut—dibandingkan dengan wanita Bhāratī (India), engkau kurang dalam lima tanda jasmani.

Word by Word

• bhage: in the pudendum/sexual organ
• bhage: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• netre: in the two eyes
• netre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• haste: in the hand
• haste: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• stane: in the breast
• stane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kukṣau: in the two flanks/abdomen-sides
• kukṣau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kukṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन)

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

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/अवधारण अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• bhāratī-apekṣayā: in comparison with Bhāratī
• bhāratī-apekṣayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāratī (प्रातिपदिक) + apekṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: bhāratyāḥ apekṣā = 'in comparison with Bhāratī'

• pañcabhiḥ: by five (with five)
• pañcabhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन), (gender per agreement)

• nyūnā: deficient/less
• nyūnā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative particle (विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय)

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Physiognomic comparison is used to classify auspiciousness/fortune; the verse exemplifies how cultural norms shape ‘ideal’ markers.

Vedantic Theme: Limited: illustrates loka-dharma and saṃskāra-based valuation; reminds that empirical criteria are contingent (vyāvahārika) rather than ultimate (pāramārthika).

Application: Read critically as a period-specific social text; avoid using such criteria for discrimination; translate the intent into concern for health and dignity rather than body-based ranking.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: region/cultural reference

Cross References

Related Themes: 3.22.48 on the list of marks; continuation of strī-lakṣaṇa enumeration

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Bhāratī

FAQs

What is the importance of lakṣaṇa (bodily marks) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses lakṣaṇa as a diagnostic-style description—specific physical features are compared to a standard (here, a Bhāratī), showing how the text classifies and distinguishes forms by observable marks.

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

Indirectly: in the Preta Kanda, such descriptive markers support the broader narrative of identifying conditions and states connected with embodied existence; it complements discussions on the subtle/physical condition rather than detailing the soul’s route explicitly.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that the Purana often teaches through careful observation and classification—encouraging discernment, self-examination, and a disciplined approach to dharma-oriented living.