Shloka 19

Devanagari script

शुष्कैर्निश्वा विशुष्कैश्च दुर्भगाः परिकीर्तिताः / पुष्पगन्धे नृपाः शुक्रे मधुगन्धे धनं बहुः

Transliteration

śuṣkairniśvā viśuṣkaiśca durbhagāḥ parikīrtitāḥ / puṣpagandhe nṛpāḥ śukre madhugandhe dhanaṃ bahuḥ

Translation

ଯାହାଙ୍କ ଶ୍ୱାସ ଶୁଷ୍କ ଓ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ରୁକ୍ଷ, ସେମାନେ ଦୁର୍ଭାଗ୍ୟବାନ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ। ପୁଷ୍ପଗନ୍ଧ ହେଲେ ରାଜତ୍ୱର ଲକ୍ଷଣ; ଶୁକ୍ରଗନ୍ଧ ହେଲେ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଓ ପୌରୁଷ; ମଧୁଗନ୍ଧ ହେଲେ ବହୁ ଧନର ସୂଚନା।

Word by Word

• शुष्कैः: with dry (ones)
• शुष्कैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण/सह), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• निश्वा: the breath (exhalation)
• निश्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• विशुष्कैः: with very dry (ones)
• विशुष्कैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधकः अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• दुर्भगाः: unfortunate
• दुर्भगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्भग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• परिकीर्तिताः: are described/declared
• परिकीर्तिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• पुष्पगन्धे: in (the case of) flower-scent
• पुष्पगन्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प-गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक; पुष्प + गन्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• शुक्रे: in semen
• शुक्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• मधुगन्धे: in honey-scent
• मधुगन्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु-गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक; मधु + गन्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• बहुः: much
• बहुः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (धनम् इति)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bodily signs and sensory markers are read as karmic indicators of fortune, status, and prosperity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala manifesting in the body (śarīra as prārabdha-karman’s field).

Application: Observe health and bodily dryness; treat severe dryness as inauspicious/possibly pathological; interpret perceived fragrances as traditional omens with caution and ethical restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (śarīra-lakṣaṇa/strī-puṃ-lakṣaṇa context; adjacent verses on odor, semen, and body marks)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily omens (nimitta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats breath-quality and perceived fragrances as nimittas—signs used to infer fortune or misfortune, such as kingship (flower-fragrance) or wealth (honey-fragrance).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the post-death journey; instead, it belongs to an omens/signs context in the Ācāra Kāṇḍa, focusing on indicators of worldly destiny (bhāgya) rather than preta- or naraka-topics.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the teaching as a reminder to observe health and conduct: persistent “dry breath” can signal imbalance and hardship, while the broader intent encourages mindful living rather than superstition.