Shloka 13

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

Forehead & Palm

Devanagari script

सप्तत्यायुर्द्विरेखा तु षष्ट्यायुस्तिसृभिर्भवेत् / व्यक्ताव्यक्ताभी रेखाभिर्विंशत्यायुर्भवेन्नरः

Transliteration

saptatyāyurdvirekhā tu ṣaṣṭyāyustisṛbhirbhavet / vyaktāvyaktābhī rekhābhirviṃśatyāyurbhavennaraḥ

Translation

Com duas linhas bem nítidas, diz-se que a vida é de setenta anos; com três linhas, de sessenta. Mas se as linhas são em parte claras e em parte indistintas, o homem vem a ter apenas vinte anos de vida.

Word by Word

• सप्ततिः: seventy
• सप्ततिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तति (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आयुः’ इति विशेष्ये संख्याविशेषण

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्विरेखा: two lines
• द्विरेखा: Nimitta (Indicator/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि + रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (द्वे रेखे); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (यस्य/यत्र) इति सन्दर्भे लक्षणवाचक

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेष/विरोधबोधक-अव्यय (particle)

• षष्टिः: sixty
• षष्टिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्टि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आयुः’ इति विशेष्ये संख्याविशेषण

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तिसृभिः: by/with three (lines)
• तिसृभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (रेखाभिः इति अध्याहृत)

• भवेत्: would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्यक्त: distinct
• व्यक्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनार्थे (रेखाभिः इति सह); स्पष्ट-विशेषण

• अव्यक्ताभिः: indistinct
• अव्यक्ताभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेध (indistinct)

• रेखाभिः: by/with lines
• रेखाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• विंशति: twenty
• विंशति: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विंशति (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; ‘आयुः’ इति विशेष्ये संख्याविशेषण

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Discernment (viveka) between clear and unclear signs mirrors the broader need to discern the reliable from the unreliable in worldly indicators.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) and the limits of empirical signs; ultimate refuge is not in marks but in knowledge/devotion.

Application: Cultivate clarity in life—habits, ethics, and mind—rather than obsessing over ambiguous omens; seek wise counsel and spiritual grounding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.63.10–14 (progression of line-based āyus signs)

FAQs

What is the importance of rekhā (lines/markings) in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bodily ‘rekhā’ as longevity indicators—specific counts and clarity of lines are linked to predicted lifespan.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing lifespan determination through signs, it frames human life as time-bound, encouraging timely dharma and preparation for death-related duties taught elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder of life’s uncertainty—prioritize dharma, ethical conduct, and timely spiritual practice rather than relying on longevity.