Shloka 71

Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life

Devanagari script

अतः सलक्षणा ज्ञेया द्वात्रिंशल्लक्षणैर्न हि / पितुर्गृहे वर्धमाना सदापि स्वकुटुंबं श्रेष्ठयितुं खगेन्द्र

Transliteration

ataḥ salakṣaṇā jñeyā dvātriṃśallakṣaṇairna hi / piturgṛhe vardhamānā sadāpi svakuṭuṃbaṃ śreṣṭhayituṃ khagendra

Translation

म्हणून हे खगेन्द्र (गरुड)! सुलक्षणा स्त्रीला केवळ बत्तीस बाह्य लक्षणांवरून ओळखू नये. ती पित्याच्या घरी वाढत असतानाही सदैव आपल्या भावी कुटुंबाला श्रेष्ठ करण्यास प्रवृत्त असते.

Word by Word

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (हेतुवाचक-अव्यय)

• sa-lakṣaṇāḥ: having marks
• sa-lakṣaṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: lakṣaṇena saha = having marks

• jñeyāḥ: are to be known
• jñeyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु) + yat (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (यत्/तव्यत्-भाव); Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural; 'to be known'

• dvātriṃśat-lakṣaṇaiḥ: by thirty-two marks
• dvātriṃśat-lakṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvātriṃśat (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural; द्विगु-समास: dvātriṃśat-lakṣaṇāni = thirty-two marks

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation scope)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• pituḥ: of the father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular

• gṛhe: in the house
• gṛhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular

• vardhamānā: growing up
• vardhamānā: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛdh (धातु) + śānac (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शानच्); Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; agreeing with implied 'sā'

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• sva-kuṭumbam: one's own family
• sva-kuṭumbam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṭumba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; कर्मधारय: svaṃ kuṭumbam = one's own family

• śreṣṭhayitum: to make excellent/to improve
• śreṣṭhayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śreṣṭhaya (नामधातु from śreṣṭha) (धातु) + tumun (कृदन्त)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्); purpose (प्रयोजन)

• khaga-indra: O king of birds
• khaga-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन) Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: khagānām indraḥ

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspiciousness is not merely external lakṣaṇa; true śrī/saubhāgya is shown by disposition to uphold and ennoble the future family.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa and saṃskāra over rūpa: inner tendencies (vāsanā/saṃskāra) are more determinative than outward signs.

Application: In choosing a spouse/partner, prioritize character, responsibility, and family-uplifting conduct over purely external checklists.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (discussion of strī-lakṣaṇa and their limits)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khagendra)

FAQs

What is the importance of the “thirty-two signs” (dvātriṁśal-lakṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse cautions that external lakṣaṇas alone are not sufficient; true auspiciousness is confirmed by enduring character and the capacity to uplift the household.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on dharma?

It aligns with dharma-based evaluation: inner disposition (conduct, intent, steadiness) is valued over outward markers, especially for sustaining a righteous and harmonious family life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize virtues and conduct—responsibility, compassion, and commitment to family welfare—over superficial checklists when judging compatibility or “auspiciousness.”