Shloka 37

Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life

Devanagari script

दग्धपर्व तसंकाशो रक्तपृष्ठः कलिः स्मृतः / अलोमांसो ऽलोमशिरा रक्तगण्डकपोलकः

Transliteration

dagdhaparva tasaṃkāśo raktapṛṣṭhaḥ kaliḥ smṛtaḥ / alomāṃso 'lomaśirā raktagaṇḍakapolakaḥ

Translation

Kali é descrito como alguém cujas articulações parecem queimadas, cujas costas são vermelho-sangue; sem pelos na carne e sem cabelos na cabeça, com bochechas e maçãs do rosto manchadas de vermelho-sangue.

Word by Word

• दग्धपर्व: with joints as if burnt
• दग्धपर्व: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध (दह् धातु, क्त; कृदन्त) + पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘दग्धानि पर्वाणि यस्य’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः (formally tatpurusha-like, semantically bahuvrihi)

• तत्संकाशः: resembling that
• तत्संकाशः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘तत्-सदृश’ (resembling that)

• रक्तपृष्ठः: red-backed
• रक्तपृष्ठः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कलिः: Kali (personified)
• कलिः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नामपदम्

• स्मृतः: is said/remembered (as)
• स्मृतः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विधेय-विशेषण

• अलोमांसः: hairless-shouldered
• अलोमांसः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + लोम + अंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (negative compound)

• अलोमशिराः: hairless-headed
• अलोमशिराः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + लोम + शिरस्/शिरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष

• रक्तगण्डकपोलकः: with red cheeks and cheekbones
• रक्तगण्डकपोलकः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त + गण्ड + कपोलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष—‘रक्तौ गण्डौ कपोलकौ च यस्य’ (red cheeks and cheekbones)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kali (degeneration) is marked by corruption and distortion; recognizing its ‘marks’ supports vigilance in dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-vikāra and adharma-pravṛtti: decline of sattva and rise of tamas/rajas as experiential ‘signs’ of Kali’s influence.

Application: Counter Kali’s influence through truthfulness, restraint, cleanliness, charity, and Vishnu-smaraṇa; avoid cruelty and intoxication.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (continuation of arishta/degeneration marks)

Characters & Entities

• Kali

FAQs

What is the importance of Kali’s terrifying form in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses a graphic, personified depiction of Kali to convey the harshness and moral corrosion associated with Kali Yuga, reinforcing the text’s warning to adhere to dharma and avoid sinful conduct.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda’s afterlife narrative, frightening descriptions function as moral instruction—reminding the listener that adharma leads to fear, suffering, and dark experiences on the post-death path and in Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the verse as a call to reduce cruelty, deceit, and negligence: practice truthfulness, restraint, charity, and proper rites for ancestors, so one’s life and death-path are steadier and less burdened by wrongdoing.