Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

अष्टभिर्लक्षणैर्युक्ता देवगन्धर्वसत्तमाः / दोषैश्चतुर्विंशतिभिः संयुक्ताः परिकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

aṣṭabhirlakṣaṇairyuktā devagandharvasattamāḥ / doṣaiścaturviṃśatibhiḥ saṃyuktāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

Translation

ព្រះទេវ និងគន្ធರ್ವដ៏ប្រសើរ ត្រូវបានពោលថា មានលក្ខណៈសម្គាល់៨ប្រការ ហើយក៏ត្រូវបានពិពណ៌នាថា ភ្ជាប់ជាមួយកំហុស២៤ប្រការផងដែរ។

Word by Word

• अष्टभिः: with eight
• अष्टभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; numeral adjective

• लक्षणैः: with characteristics
• लक्षणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• युक्ताः: endowed
• युक्ताः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agrees with subject

• देव-गन्धर्व-सत्तमाः: the best of the Deva-Gandharvas
• देव-गन्धर्व-सत्तमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (देवगन्धर्वाणां सत्तमाः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• दोषैः: with faults
• दोषैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• चतुर्विंशतिभिः: with twenty-four
• चतुर्विंशतिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्विंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; numeral adjective

• संयुक्ताः: associated
• संयुक्ताः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• परिकीर्तिताः: are declared/described
• परिकीर्तिताः: Karma (कर्म) / Predicative passive
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the foremost celestial beings possess both auspicious marks and enumerated defects; greatness is not absolute purity.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva mixed with rajas/tamas within prakriti; empirical excellence remains within guna-bound limitation.

Application: Cultivate discernment: respect excellence without idealizing; evaluate character by both strengths and flaws.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22.66-69 (continuation of marks/defects across beings)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Gandharvas

FAQs

What is the importance of the eight lakṣaṇas and twenty-four doṣas in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that even exalted celestial classes are analyzed through defined qualities and faults, reinforcing the Purana’s karmic framework of attributes shaping status and experience.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

By stressing that beings are described through merits and defects, it supports the broader Preta Kanda theme that post-death conditions and realms correspond to one’s accumulated qualities (guṇas) and doṣas.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate identifiable virtues and reduce recurring faults through self-audit and discipline, remembering that status alone is not proof of purity—character and conduct remain central.