Shloka 17

Lakṣaṇas of Men: Feet, Shanks, Hair, Genitals, Abdomen, and Lines of Longevity

Forehead & Palm

Devanagari script

प्रथमा ज्ञानरेखा तु ह्यङ्गुष्ठादनुवर्तते / मध्यमामूलगा रेखा आयूरेखा अतः परम्

Transliteration

prathamā jñānarekhā tu hyaṅguṣṭhādanuvartate / madhyamāmūlagā rekhā āyūrekhā ataḥ param

Translation

Garis pertama ialah ‘garis pengetahuan’; ia bermula dari ibu jari. Sesudah itu, garis tengah yang turun hingga ke pangkal (tapak tangan) dikenali sebagai ‘garis hayat’.

Word by Word

• प्रथमा: the first
• प्रथमा: Karta (Subject-Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (ज्ञानरेखा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• ज्ञानरेखा: the knowledge line
• ज्ञानरेखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ज्ञानस्य रेखा)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषण/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: 'indeed/for')

• अङ्गुष्ठात्: from the thumb
• अङ्गुष्ठात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• अनुवर्तते: follows/extends along
• अनुवर्तते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मध्यमामूलगा: situated at the root of the middle (finger)
• मध्यमामूलगा: Karta (Subject-Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यमा (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (कृदन्त; गम् धातु, क्त/ण्वुलादि-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणार्थ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मध्यमायाः मूलं गता/स्थिताः)

• रेखा: line
• रेखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आयुरेखा: lifeline
• आयुरेखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आयुषः रेखा)

• अतः: thereafter/from this
• अतः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेतौ/अनन्तरार्थे (adverb: 'thereafter/from this')

• परम्: further/next
• परम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative: 'further/next')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Distinguishing jñāna-rekhā and āyū-rekhā; knowledge and life are read as structured potentials in the embodied person.

Vedantic Theme: Instrumentality of body-mind (upādhi) for knowledge; jñāna as a discernible capacity while āyuḥ is prārabdha-bound.

Application: Value both learning (jñāna) and life-supporting discipline (āyuḥ); cultivate study, discernment, and healthful routine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.63.16, 1.63.18-19 (āyū-rekhā outcomes); Garuda Purana 1.63.15 (auspicious marks and fruits)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the jñāna-rekhā (knowledge line) in Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies a specific palm line beginning from the thumb as jñāna-rekhā, treating it as a traditional indicator connected with knowledge and discernment.

How does this verse describe the āyu-rekhā (life-line)?

It states that the middle line that descends to the root/base of the palm is termed the āyu-rekhā, i.e., the line associated with life and longevity indications.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional reflective tool—prioritize cultivation of knowledge (jñāna) and disciplined living (āyu) rather than fatalism, aligning conduct with dharma.