Adhyaya 43 — Portents of Death (Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇas) and the Yogin’s Response; Alarka Renounces Kingship
खण्डं यस्य पदं पार्ष्ण्यां पादस्याग्रे च वा भवेत् ।
पांशुकर्दमयोर्मध्ये सप्त मासान् स जीवति ॥
khaṇḍaṃ yasya padaṃ pārṣṇyāṃ pādasyāgre ca vā bhavet /
pāṃśu-kardamayoḥ madhye sapta māsān sa jīvati //
もし男の足が「折れ/損なわれ」—踵であれ足先であれ—そのようになり、しかも塵と泥の間にいるかのように見いだされるなら、その者は七か月生きる。
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The ‘foot’ (support and movement in the world) becoming impaired symbolizes weakening capacity to continue worldly trajectories; the counsel implied is to turn to inner practice and prepare conscientiously.
Ariṣṭa-nirdeśa is a practical yogic adjunct, not a Pancalakṣaṇa element.
Feet represent grounding (sthiti). Dust and mud evoke tamas and heaviness—signs of prāṇic descent and sensory dulling. Esoterically, it indicates the jīva’s ‘path’ in the body is nearing closure, urging conscious utkrānti.