Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

विस्तीर्णोरश्चैकविंशं तदाहुः सिंहास्कन्धं द्व्युत्तरं विंशमाहुः / त्रयोविंशं सूक्ष्ममास्यं तदाहुश्चतुर्विशं सुप्रसन्ने च दृष्टी

Transliteration

vistīrṇoraścaikaviṃśaṃ tadāhuḥ siṃhāskandhaṃ dvyuttaraṃ viṃśamāhuḥ / trayoviṃśaṃ sūkṣmamāsyaṃ tadāhuścaturviśaṃ suprasanne ca dṛṣṭī

Translation

彼らは、吉相の第二十一を「広く張った胸」と説き、第二十を「獅子のごとき肩」と言う。第二十三は「端正に整った精妙な顔貌」、第二十四は「静けさに満ち、澄みわたり輝く安らかな眼差し」であると。

Word by Word

• vistīrṇa-uraḥ: broad chest
• vistīrṇa-uraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistīrṇa (कृदन्त, √stṛ/स्तृ ‘to spread’ with vi-) + uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: ‘broad chest’

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

• eka-viṃśam: the twenty-first
• eka-viṃśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + viṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); numeral used as ordinal/label (=21st)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āhuḥ: they said/call
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• siṃha-skandham: lion-like shoulders
• siṃha-skandham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + skandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); upamā/tatpuruṣa sense: ‘lion-like shoulder/shoulders’

• dvi-uttaram: two more (i.e., twenty-second)
• dvi-uttaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘two more (than twenty)’ (=22nd)

• viṃśam: twenty
• viṃśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used with dvi-uttaram as base ‘twenty’

• āhuḥ: they said/call
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• trayaḥ-viṃśam: the twenty-third
• trayaḥ-viṃśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trayaḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); numeral used as ordinal/label (=23rd)

• sūkṣmam: fine/subtle
• sūkṣmam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying āsyaṃ

• āsyam: mouth/face
• āsyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āhuḥ: they said/call
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• catur-viśam: the twenty-fourth
• catur-viśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); numeral used as ordinal/label (=24th)

• su-prasanne: in very serene (ones)
• su-prasanne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन); qualifying dṛṣṭī

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

• dṛṣṭī: the two eyes/glances
• dṛṣṭī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplation of auspicious marks (lakṣaṇa) as a support for reverent recognition of divinity and inner serenity reflected outwardly.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-pradhāna śarīra as a sign of inner purity; form as an upāsanā-aṅga (aid to meditation).

Application: Use the described marks as a dhyāna-ālambana while visualizing Viṣṇu; cultivate calm gaze and gentle demeanor as ethical-spiritual discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (context: enumeration of mahāpuruṣa-lakṣaṇas/auspicious marks)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious bodily marks in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats physical features—broad chest, lion-like shoulders, refined face, serene gaze—as outward indicators traditionally associated with inner virtue, strength, and sattvic composure.

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

Indirectly: the Preta Kanda often links one’s inner qualities and karmic refinement with subtle-body conditions and experiences after death; here, serenity and noble bearing are presented as marks of cultivated dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate calmness, clarity, and ethical strength—serenity in the eyes and steadiness in demeanor are framed as visible outcomes of disciplined, dharmic living.