Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

अगम्यागामी जिह्मबलिर्भूपाः पार्श्वैश्च मांसलैः / मृदुभिः सुसमैश्चैव दक्षिणावर्तरोमभिः

Transliteration

agamyāgāmī jihmabalirbhūpāḥ pārśvaiśca māṃsalaiḥ / mṛdubhiḥ susamaiścaiva dakṣiṇāvartaromabhiḥ

Translation

Raja yang pergi ke tempat yang tidak patut, yang berliku dalam persembahan dan pungutan, serta berpinggang sisi berdaging—yang lemah lembut, seimbang elok, dan bulu tubuhnya berpusar ke kanan—demikianlah tanda-tandanya disebut dalam śāstra.

Word by Word

• अगम्यागामी: one who goes to the unapproachable / hard-to-reach
• अगम्यागामी: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगम्य (गम्-धातु, क्तव्य/यत्-कृदन्त) + आगामिन् (आ-गम्-धातु, णिनि-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative singular; adjective)

• जिह्मबलिः: having crooked folds/curved lines
• जिह्मबलिः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जिह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative singular; adjective)

• भूपाः: kings
• भूपाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative plural)

• पार्श्वैः: with sides/flanks
• पार्श्वैः: Karana (Instrument/feature)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• मांसलैः: fleshy, well-muscled
• मांसलैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Instrumental plural; adjective)

• मृदुभिः: soft
• मृदुभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Instrumental plural; adjective)

• सुसमैः: very even, well-proportioned
• सुसमैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Instrumental plural; adjective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• दक्षिणावर्तरोमभिः: with hair whorls turning to the right
• दक्षिणावर्तरोमभिः: Karana (Instrument/feature)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + आवर्त (प्रातिपदिक) + रोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Instrumental plural; adjective)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue instruction to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ruler’s conduct (gamyāgamyā—going where one should not) and integrity in bali/collections correlate with fortune-signs and social outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as moral causality manifesting in embodied signs; dharma as harmonizing order in society.

Application: For leadership: avoid adharmic pursuits and crooked taxation/offerings; cultivate gentleness and proportionality (metaphorically: balanced governance).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (lakṣaṇa/śarīra-cihna section on kings and fortune)

Characters & Entities

• Bhūpa (king/ruler)

FAQs

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

This verse uses physical and behavioral markers to indicate a ruler’s tendencies—linking external signs (like right-curling hair and proportion) with inner disposition and conduct.

How does this verse explain dharma in governance?

By contrasting traits like ‘going to forbidden places’ and ‘crooked tribute’ with gentleness and balanced form, it implies that unrighteous conduct in taxation/offerings reflects adharma in rulership.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as an ethics lesson: leadership is judged by conduct—especially fairness in taking dues and transparency—more than by status alone.