Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

पितृवित्तविनाशश्च निम्नात्करतलान्नराः / मणिबन्धैर्निगूढैश्च सुश्लिष्टैः शुभगन्धिभिः

Transliteration

pitṛvittavināśaśca nimnātkaratalānnarāḥ / maṇibandhairnigūḍhaiśca suśliṣṭaiḥ śubhagandhibhiḥ

Translation

കരതലം താഴ്ന്ന് കുഴിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്ന പുരുഷന്മാർക്ക് പിതൃസമ്പത്തിന്റെ നാശമുണ്ടാകുമെന്ന് പറയുന്നു. അതുപോലെ മണിബന്ധത്തിൽ മറഞ്ഞ് കട്ടിയായി ചേർന്നും സുഗന്ധമുള്ള വളകൾ ധരിച്ചാലും (അശുഭഫലം) എന്നു കണക്കാക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• पितृ: father/ancestors
• पितृ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (पितृवित्तविनाशः)

• वित्त: wealth
• वित्त: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासमध्यपद (पितृ-वित्त-विनाशः)

• विनाशः: loss/destruction
• विनाशः: Karta/Predicate noun (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः: पितृ-वित्त-विनाश (तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• निम्नात्: from (being) depressed/low
• निम्नात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे (from a depression)

• करतलात्: from the palm
• करतलात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ‘निम्नात्’ इत्यनेन सह (nimnāt karatalāt)

• नराः: men/persons
• नराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मणिबन्धैः: with wrists
• मणिबन्धैः: Hetu/Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणिबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः: मणि-बन्ध (तत्पुरुष; wrist)

• निगूढैः: hidden/concealed
• निगूढैः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निगूढ (कृदन्त; √गुह् ‘गोपने’ + नि)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• सुश्लिष्टैः: well-joined/compact
• सुश्लिष्टैः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + श्लिष्ट (कृदन्त; √श्लिष् ‘आलिङ्गने/संश्लेषे’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘सु’ उपपद (well-)

• शुभगन्धिभिः: with pleasant fragrance
• शुभगन्धिभिः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + गन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः: शुभ-गन्धिन् (कर्मधारय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Family fortune (paitrika-dhana) is fragile; embodied signs are read as omens of depletion and binding circumstances.

Vedantic Theme: Anitya (impermanence) of wealth; karma shaping household outcomes.

Application: Practice prudent stewardship of inherited resources; perform dharmic giving and avoid waste; maintain humility about fortune.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (omens/lakshanas connected to prosperity)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of ancestral wealth (pitṛ-vitta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats pitṛ-vitta as a karmically sensitive inheritance: certain bodily signs are described as omens indicating its decline, linking prosperity with dharmic order and inherited merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by highlighting karmic indicators in embodied life, it implies that one’s fortunes—including lineage-supporting resources used for duties like śrāddha—are shaped by prior causes, which in turn affect post-death rites and support.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Rather than fatalism, take it as a prompt to protect family resources through ethical conduct, fulfill pitṛ-dharma (care for elders, śrāddha/ancestral remembrance where appropriate), and avoid vanity-driven display that distracts from duty.