Shloka 24

Devanagari script

समकक्षाश्च भोगाढ्या निम्नकक्षा धनोज्झिताः / नृपाश्चोन्नतकक्षाः स्युर्जिह्ना विषमकक्षकाः

Transliteration

samakakṣāśca bhogāḍhyā nimnakakṣā dhanojjhitāḥ / nṛpāśconnatakakṣāḥ syurjihnā viṣamakakṣakāḥ

Translation

സമകായമുള്ളവർ ഭോഗസമൃദ്ധരാകുന്നു; താഴ്ന്ന കായമുള്ളവർ ധനവഞ്ചിതരെന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നു. രാജാക്കന്മാർ ഉന്നതകായമുള്ളവർ; കപടർ വിഷമവും വക്രവുമായ കായമുള്ളവർ എന്നു കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• समकक्षाः: having equal/level lines (folds)
• समकक्षाः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + कक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. pl.)

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

• भोगाढ्याः: rich in enjoyments/pleasures
• भोगाढ्याः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. pl.)

• निम्नकक्षाः: having low/depressed lines
• निम्नकक्षाः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निम्न (प्रातिपदिक) + कक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. pl.)

• धनोज्झिताः: devoid of wealth; abandoned by wealth
• धनोज्झिताः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्झित (कृदन्त; √हā/हन्? here: √हā (त्यागे) with ud-; past passive participle)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), विशेषण (fem. nom. pl.)

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (masc. nom. pl.)

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

• उन्नतकक्षाः: having raised/high lines
• उन्नतकक्षाः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्नत (प्रातिपदिक) + कक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (masc. nom. pl.)

• स्युः: would be/are said to be
• स्युः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• जिह्नाः: crooked
• जिह्नाः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (masc. nom. pl.)

• विषमकक्षकाः: having uneven lines/folds
• विषमकक्षकाः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक) + कक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (masc. nom. pl.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied marks indicate prior karmic tendencies and their worldly fruits (bhoga, dhana, status) and reveal inner disposition (jihnatva/deceit).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala expressed through the body (śarīra as upādhi); guṇa/saṃskāra inferred from external lakṣaṇa.

Application: Use as a caution in self-cultivation and in assessing conduct: prioritize satya/ārjava over deceptive behavior; treat prosperity/status as karmic results, not ultimate worth.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (samudrika-lakṣaṇa context: bodily marks and their fruits)

FAQs

What is the importance of karmic indicators in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a traditional karmic mapping where external conditions (enjoyment, poverty, status, bodily irregularity) are described as reflections of prior conduct and present character, reinforcing ethical living (dharma).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking one’s worldly condition and traits to karma, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that the jīva carries impressions of deeds that shape experiences across life and post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate straightforwardness and integrity (avoid jihnatā—deceit), and pursue dharmic action, since the text frames character and life-circumstances as closely tied to karmic results.