Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

मृदुरोमा समा जङ्घा तथा करिकरप्रभा / ऊरवो जानवस्तुल्या नृपस्योपचिताः स्मृताः

Transliteration

mṛduromā samā jaṅghā tathā karikaraprabhā / ūravo jānavastulyā nṛpasyopacitāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

അവന്റെ ദേഹരോമം മൃദുവാണ്; അവന്റെ ജംഘകൾ സമവും സുന്ദരവുമായി, ആനയുടെ തുമ്പിക്കൈപോലെ പ്രകാശമുള്ളവ. അവന്റെ തുടകൾ സന്ധികളുപോലെ ദൃഢവും പുഷ്ടവുമെന്നു പറയുന്നു—ഇവ രാജാവിന്റെ നന്നായി വളർന്ന അവയവങ്ങളായി കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• मृदु-रोमा: soft-haired
• मृदु-रोमा: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक) + रोमा/रोमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (Feminine, Nominative singular; 'soft-haired')

• समा: even, symmetrical
• समा: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (Feminine, Nominative singular; 'even')

• जङ्घा: the shank/leg
• जङ्घा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative singular)

• तथा: also; thus
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (Indeclinable; 'also/thus')

• करि-कर-प्रभा: having the sheen like an elephant’s trunk
• करि-कर-प्रभा: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (Feminine, Nominative singular; 'having the luster of an elephant's trunk/hand')

• ऊरवः: thighs
• ऊरवः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative plural)

• जानु-वत्-तुल्याः: similar to knees / knee-like
• जानु-वत्-तुल्याः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (Masculine, Nominative plural; 'equal to those having knees' i.e., knee-like)

• नृपस्य: of the king
• नृपस्य: Shashthi-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive singular)

• उपचिताः: well-developed
• उपचिताः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + चि (धातु) → उपचित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भावे (Masculine, Nominative plural; past passive participle 'accumulated/well-developed')

• स्मृताः: are said/considered
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Predicative verbal sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, कर्मणि प्रयोगः—'are said/are considered' (Masculine, Nominative plural; PPP used predicatively)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa (marks) of a ruler: physical harmony is presented as an outward sign of inner fitness for governance and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-sāmya (balance of qualities) reflected in bodily proportion; the body as an instrument for dharma when governed by sattva.

Application: Cultivate steadiness, discipline, and balanced living; for leaders, embody stability and protection through consistent conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: royal court (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana rāja-dharma and lakṣaṇa-style descriptions (thematic)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily lakṣaṇas (marks) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats physical symmetry and robust limbs as traditional indicators of royal fitness—outward signs associated with strength, steadiness, and capacity to uphold dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey directly; instead, it belongs to a descriptive section on lakṣaṇas (characteristics), focusing on the embodied traits associated with a king.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a leadership teaching: steadiness, balance, and disciplined strength are valued traits for those entrusted with responsibility, beyond mere appearance.