Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

अन्यथा त्वर्थहीनानां दारिद्रयस्य च कारणम् / संमासौ चैव भुग्नाल्पौ श्लिष्टौ च विपुलौ शुभौ

Transliteration

anyathā tvarthahīnānāṃ dāridrayasya ca kāraṇam / saṃmāsau caiva bhugnālpau śliṣṭau ca vipulau śubhau

Translation

അല്ലാത്തപക്ഷം അത് ഉപാധിയില്ലാത്തവർക്ക് ദാരിദ്ര്യത്തിന്റെ കാരണമാകുന്നു. അതിനാൽ ശുഭലക്ഷണം ഇതാണ്—രണ്ട് മാംസള ഭാഗങ്ങൾ നന്നായി ചേർന്ന് ദൃഢമായിരിക്കണം; അവയവങ്ങൾ വളഞ്ഞതോ ചെറുതോ അല്ലാതെ, വിശാലവും മംഗളകരവുമായിരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (adverb)

• तु: but; however
• तु: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्ययम् (particle: but/indeed)

• अर्थहीनानाम्: of those lacking wealth/means
• अर्थहीनानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ + हीन (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘अर्थेन हीनाः’ (Genitive plural, masculine)

• दारिद्र्यस्य: of poverty
• दारिद्र्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारिद्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम् (Genitive singular, neuter)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• कारणम्: cause; reason
• कारणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Nom/Acc singular, neuter)

• संमासौ: the two joints/meeting-points (lit. ‘contacts’)
• संमासौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संमास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा द्विवचनम् (Nominative dual, masculine)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (particle: indeed/only)

• भुग्नाल्पौ: bent and small (two)
• भुग्नाल्पौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुग्न (कृदन्त; √भञ्ज्) + अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा द्विवचनम्; द्वन्द्वः—‘भुग्नौ च अल्पौ च’ (Nominative dual, masculine)

• श्लिष्टौ: closely joined (two)
• श्लिष्टौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लिष्ट (कृदन्त; √श्लिष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा द्विवचनम्; भूतकृदन्त-विशेषणम् (Nominative dual, masculine; ‘joined/close’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• विपुलौ: broad; large (two)
• विपुलौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा द्विवचनम् (Nominative dual, masculine)

• शुभौ: auspicious (two)
• शुभौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा द्विवचनम् (Nominative dual, masculine)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain bodily deficiencies are framed as correlates/causes of poverty; auspiciousness is associated with firmness, symmetry, and well-knit flesh/limbs.

Vedantic Theme: Relative-plane (vyavahāra) reading of karmaphala through the body; implicit reminder that these are worldly indicators, not ultimate measures of the Self.

Application: Treat the passage as a historical physiognomic worldview; in practice, focus on skill-building and ethical conduct as real ‘means’ (artha) to counter poverty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana lakṣaṇa/artha passages contiguous with 1.65.34–38

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious bodily marks in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links inauspicious physical indications with adverse life outcomes like poverty, while describing auspicious traits as compact, well-formed, and ample—signs associated with favorable fortune.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it reflects the Garuda Purana’s broader karmic framework—outer conditions in life (prosperity or hardship) are presented as connected to merit and demerit, which ultimately shape one’s journey through saṃsāra.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a prompt for self-correction and dhārmic living: cultivate ethical conduct, charity, and discipline rather than fatalism, since the text frames fortune and hardship within a moral-causal order.