Shloka 4
Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life
तस्मा दाहुर्लक्ष्मणेत्येव सर्वे तल्लक्षणं शृणु चादौ खगेन्द्र / नारायणे पूर्णगुणे रमेशे द्वात्रिंशत्संख्यानि सुलक्षणानि
tasmā dāhurlakṣmaṇetyeva sarve tallakṣaṇaṃ śṛṇu cādau khagendra / nārāyaṇe pūrṇaguṇe rameśe dvātriṃśatsaṃkhyāni sulakṣaṇāni
അതുകൊണ്ട് എല്ലാവരും ഇവയെ ‘ലക്ഷണങ്ങൾ’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു. ഹേ ഖഗേന്ദ്രാ! ആദ്യം ആ ലക്ഷണങ്ങൾ കേൾക്കുക—രമേശനായ, സർവ്വഗുണസമ്പന്നനായ നാരായണനിൽ എണ്ണത്തിൽ മുപ്പത്തിരണ്ട് ശുഭലക്ഷണങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ട്।
Lord Vishnu (Narayana) speaking to Garuda (Khagendra/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Nārāyaṇa is pūrṇa-guṇa (complete in virtues) and possesses thirty-two auspicious marks; contemplation of these marks supports recognition and devotion.
Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahman contemplation as an aid to steadiness of mind; divine attributes as upāsanā-lakṣaṇa.
Application: Use the thirty-two marks as a structured contemplative checklist in pūjā/dhyāna; align inner virtues with the ideal of pūrṇa-guṇa.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22: immediate continuation likely enumerating the dvātriṃśat-sulakṣaṇāni of Nārāyaṇa; Garuda Purana: Vishnu-bhakti sections that use nāma-rūpa and attributes for upāsanā
FAQs
This verse introduces that Nārāyaṇa possesses thirty-two auspicious marks, framing them as authoritative identifiers of divine perfection and a basis for devotional contemplation.
Indirectly: by establishing Nārāyaṇa as pūrṇa-guṇa (complete in virtues), it sets the theological ground that remembrance and devotion to the Supreme becomes a refuge and guiding principle in the broader Purāṇic teaching on liberation.
Use it as a prompt for daily dhyāna: contemplate the divine qualities and auspicious marks of Nārāyaṇa to cultivate steadiness, virtue, and devotion in conduct.