Shloka 31

Devanagari script

निर्धना विषमैर्देर्घैः पीतोपचितकैर्नृपाः / समोन्नतं च हृदयमकम्पं मांसलं पृथु

Transliteration

nirdhanā viṣamairderghaiḥ pītopacitakairnṛpāḥ / samonnataṃ ca hṛdayamakampaṃ māṃsalaṃ pṛthu

Translation

വിഷമവും ദീർഘവുമായ ദേഹം, പീതവർണ്ണവും വീക്കവും ഉള്ള രാജാക്കന്മാർ ദരിദ്രരാകുന്നു; എന്നാൽ അവരുടെ ഹൃദയം സമോന്നതം, അകമ്പം, മാംസളം, വിശാലം ആയിരിക്കും।

Word by Word

• निर्धनाः: poor, without wealth
• निर्धनाः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः (उपसर्ग/निपात) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative plural; adjective)

• विषमैः: with uneven (features)
• विषमैः: Karana (Instrument/feature)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Instrumental plural; adjective)

• दीर्घैः: with long (features)
• दीर्घैः: Karana (Instrument/feature)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Instrumental plural; adjective)

• पीतोपचितकैः: with yellowish and well-filled/accumulated (features)
• पीतोपचितकैः: Karana (Instrument/feature)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (पा-धातु, क्त-कृदन्त) + उपचितक (उप-चि-धातु, क्त/क-कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Instrumental plural; adjective)

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative plural)

• समोन्नतम्: even and raised; well-elevated
• समोन्नतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्नत (उद्-नम्-धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular; adjective)

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

• हृदयम्: heart
• हृदयम्: Karma (Object/attribute described)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• अकम्पम्: unshaking, steady
• अकम्पम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् (नञ्) + कम्प (कम्प्-धातु; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular; adjective)

• मांसलम्: fleshy, muscular
• मांसलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular; adjective)

• पृथु: broad, wide
• पृथु: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular; adjective; अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग possible)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Inauspicious bodily configurations are linked to deprivation; steadiness and breadth (heart/chest qualities) are linked to strength/fortune.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s imprint on the body (śarīra) as a visible consequence; guṇa-like steadiness as auspicious.

Application: Use as a traditional diagnostic/omen framework; metaphorically, cultivate steadiness (akampa) and ‘broad-heartedness’ (pṛthu-hṛdaya) in character.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (bodily marks predicting wealth/poverty)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing the preta-body in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a diagnostic description of post-death embodiment—showing how karmic suffering can manifest as specific bodily qualities in the preta state.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It implies that the soul’s journey includes a formed post-death condition (preta embodiment) where one experiences the results of karma through a distinct, describable body-state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and dharma, and perform appropriate śrāddha/ritual duties for the departed—aiming to reduce suffering and support a steadier transition after death.