Shloka 109

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

Devanagari script

कनिष्ठिकामूलभवा रेखा कुर्याच्छतायुषम् / प्रदेशिनीमध्यमाभ्यामन्तरालगता सती

Transliteration

kaniṣṭhikāmūlabhavā rekhā kuryācchatāyuṣam / pradeśinīmadhyamābhyāmantarālagatā satī

Translation

Satu garis yang timbul dari pangkal jari kelingking dikatakan menganugerahkan usia seratus tahun; demikian juga garis yang terletak di ruang antara jari telunjuk dan jari tengah dianggap sebagai tanda bertuah.

Word by Word

• कनिष्ठिका-मूल-भवा: arising from the root of the little finger
• कनिष्ठिका-मूल-भवा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनिष्ठिका (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + भव (धातु) → भवत्/भवा (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (भव धातोः क्त/क्तवतु-प्रायः ‘भवा’), ‘कनिष्ठिकामूलात् भवति’ इति

• रेखा: line (mark)
• रेखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: would make / causes
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शत-आयुषम्: a lifespan of a hundred years
• शत-आयुषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपदम्

• प्रदेशिनी-मध्यमाभ्याम्: by (between) the index and middle fingers
• प्रदेशिनी-मध्यमाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदेशिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन; ‘प्रदेशिनी’ (तर्जनी/इण्डेक्स-फिङ्गर) तथा ‘मध्यमā’ (मध्यमा/मध्यमा-अङ्गुली) इत्ययोः समाहारः

• अन्तराल-गता: situated in the interval (between)
• अन्तराल-गता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तराल (प्रातिपदिक) + गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; ‘अन्तराले गता’

• सती: being (thus) / existing
• सती: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक; अस् धातोः शतृ/सत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विद्यमाना/सम्यक्-स्थित)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bodily marks (rekhā) are read as karmic indicators of lifespan and auspiciousness.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala reflected in the embodied condition (śarīra as prārabdha-karman).

Application: Use as a traditional palm/hand-sign assessment for āyus-śubha; cultivate prudence rather than fatalism when interpreting signs.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (anga-lakshana/stri-pum-lakshana context; adjacent verses on finger/palm lines and outcomes)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious body marks in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats certain lines (rekhā) as indicators of longevity and auspicious destiny, reflecting the Purana’s use of traditional lakṣaṇa (physiognomic) signs.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it focuses on embodied signs—especially longevity—within the broader Garuda Purana discourse on dharma and life outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional cultural lens for reflecting on health and longevity, while prioritizing dharmic living, ethical conduct, and disciplined habits as the practical foundation for well-being.