Shloka 62

Purusha-Strī-Lakṣaṇa (Samudrika-śāstra): Marks of Kingship, Wealth, Longevity, and Conduct

Devanagari script

बृहत्कर्णाश्च धनिनोराजानः परिकीर्तिताः / कर्णैः स्निग्धावनद्धैश्च व्यालम्बैर्मांसलैर्नृपाः

Transliteration

bṛhatkarṇāśca dhaninorājānaḥ parikīrtitāḥ / karṇaiḥ snigdhāvanaddhaiśca vyālambairmāṃsalairnṛpāḥ

Translation

大きな耳をもつ王は富裕であると説かれる—耳は艶やかに滑らかで、形よく整い、垂れ下がって肉厚である。

Word by Word

• बृहत्कर्णाः: big-eared (ones)
• बृहत्कर्णाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहत् + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative plural); कर्मधारयः (‘बृहन्तः कर्णाः’=big-eared)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धनिनः: wealthy persons
• धनिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative plural)

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative plural)

• परिकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed/are described
• परिकीर्तिताः: Kriya (Predicate/Verbal adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-कीर्त् (धातु) → परिकीर्तित (कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय-विशेषणम्

• कर्णैः: with ears
• कर्णैः: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental plural)

• स्निग्धावनद्धैः: smooth and well-covered
• स्निग्धावनद्धैः: Visheshana (Qualifier of कर्णैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध + अवनद्ध (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural); द्वन्द्वसमासः (‘स्निग्ध’=smooth + ‘अवनद्ध’=covered/firmly bound); विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• व्यालम्बैः: hanging down, pendulous
• व्यालम्बैः: Visheshana (Qualifier of कर्णैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-आ-लम्ब् (धातु) → व्यालम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural); विशेषण

• मांसलैः: fleshy
• मांसलैः: Visheshana (Qualifier of कर्णैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural); विशेषण

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious bodily marks (large, smooth, well-formed ears) indicate prosperity and royal suitability—outer form reflecting inner merit and past karma.

Vedantic Theme: Śrī as karma-phala; the body as a field where puṇya ripens into signs of capability and fortune.

Application: For leaders: cultivate dharmic conduct that sustains ‘śrī’ (prosperity) and public trust; for readers: value character over mere marks while understanding the text’s symbolic language.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (royal and personal lakṣaṇas)

FAQs

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

This verse uses traditional lakṣaṇa-ideas to link certain physical features—here, large, smooth, fleshy, pendulous ears—with prosperity and royal fortune.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to a descriptive section on characteristics and omens, reflecting how the Purana also teaches dharma through observable signs and ideals of kingship.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a cultural-ethical ideal about leadership and prosperity rather than a deterministic rule—focus on cultivating qualities of good governance and dharma rather than judging worth by appearance.