Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

कूर्मोन्नतौ गूढगुल्फौ सुपार्ष्णो नृपतेः स्मृतौ / शू(सर्) पाकारौ विरूक्षौ च वक्रौ पादौ शिरालकौ

Transliteration

kūrmonnatau gūḍhagulphau supārṣṇo nṛpateḥ smṛtau / śū(sar) pākārau virūkṣau ca vakrau pādau śirālakau

Translation

കൂർമകവചംപോലെ ഉയർന്നതും, ഗൂഢഗുല്ഫം (സുഗഠിത കണങ്കാൽ) ഉള്ളതും, സുന്ദരമായ കുതികാൽ ഉള്ളതുമായ പാദങ്ങൾ രാജലക്ഷണമെന്നു സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; എന്നാൽ പൊട്ടിയ-വറ്റിയ, രൂക്ഷ, വളഞ്ഞ, ശിരകൾ തെളിയുന്ന പാദങ്ങൾ അശുഭമെന്നു പറയുന്നു।

Word by Word

• कूर्मोन्नतौ: raised like a tortoise (arched)
• कूर्मोन्नतौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूर्म-उन्नत (प्रातिपदिक; कूर्म + उन्नत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used adjectivally

• गूढगुल्फौ: with concealed ankles
• गूढगुल्फौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गूढ-गुल्फ (प्रातिपदिक; गूढ + गुल्फ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; गूढ (PPP) used adjectivally

• सुपार्ष्णौ: with good heels
• सुपार्ष्णौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-पार्ष्णि (प्रातिपदिक; सु + पार्ष्णि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सु-); विशेषण

• नृपतेः: of the king
• नृपतेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• स्मृतौ: are considered / are said to be
• स्मृतौ: Kriya (Predicative/elliptic)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृत (प्रातिपदिक; √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; (इति) ‘are said/considered’

• शूपाकारौ: having the shape of a winnowing basket/fan (śūpa)
• शूपाकारौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूप-आकार (प्रातिपदिक; शूप + आकार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; विशेषण; पाठभेद: शू(सर्) इत्यत्र अस्पष्टता

• विरूक्षौ: rough
• विरूक्षौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रूक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; वि + रूक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण

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

• वक्रौ: crooked
• वक्रौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण

• पादौ: the two feet
• पादौ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• शिरालकौ: marked with veins
• शिरालकौ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिरा-लक (प्रातिपदिक; शिरा + लक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; विशेषण; ‘शिरा’ = vein, ‘लक’ = mark/spot (lexical)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within a lakṣaṇa teaching section)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Shubha-ashubha lakṣaṇa: certain embodied features are read as indicators of suitability for rulership; discernment includes recognizing warning signs.

Vedantic Theme: Empirical sign-reading within social order (dharma) contrasted with the non-ultimate nature of bodily attributes; encourages viveka without absolutizing the body.

Application: In traditional polity: screening leaders; in personal life: cultivate steadiness and care (avoid neglect leading to ‘rough/cracked’ condition), and practice non-fatalistic, ethical evaluation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65.2 (auspicious feet); Garuda Purana 1.65 (royal/ideal marks context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Nṛpa (king)

FAQs

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

This verse shows how the Garuda Purana uses traditional lakṣaṇa markers to indicate character and destiny—here, describing foot-features associated with royal stature versus inauspicious traits.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it belongs to a lakṣaṇa section that classifies auspicious physical traits, indirectly tied to karma and worldly status.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a cultural-ethical text on auspiciousness and self-assessment rather than determinism—prioritize dharma and conduct, which the Purana consistently treats as the true cause of honor and prosperity.