Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

मृत्युश्चिपिटनासे स्याद्धीनो भाग्यवतां भवेत् / स्वल्पच्छिद्रौ सुपुटौ च अवक्रौ च नृपेश्वरे

Transliteration

mṛtyuścipiṭanāse syāddhīno bhāgyavatāṃ bhavet / svalpacchidrau supuṭau ca avakrau ca nṛpeśvare

Translation

Плоский нос, как говорят, предвещает смерть; но у счастливых он, напротив, означает состояние смирения и укрощённости. У царя же, если ноздри слегка раскрыты, хорошо сложены и не искривлены, это считается благим признаком.

Word by Word

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• चिपिटनासे: in (one with) a flat nose
• चिपिटनासे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिपिट (प्रातिपदिक) + नास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (चिपिटा नासा यस्य/चिपिटनासः)

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धीनः: poor, deficient
• धीनः: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भाग्यवताम्: of the fortunate (people)
• भाग्यवताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘भाग्यवत्’ (possessed of fortune)

• भवेत्: would become / would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वल्पच्छिद्रौ: having small nostrils/holes (two)
• स्वल्पच्छिद्रौ: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (स्वल्पे छिद्रे यस्य)

• सुपुटौ: well-shaped (two)
• सुपुटौ: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सु-पुटौ = well-formed (two))

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

• अवक्रौ: not crooked (two), straight
• अवक्रौ: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; नञ्-समासार्थः ‘न वक्रौ’

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

• नृपेश्वरे: in a king/lord of men
• नृपेश्वरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नृपाणाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bodily signs are interpreted as karmic indicators; the same sign may yield different outcomes depending on overall fortune (bhāgya) and context (e.g., king).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-vipāka within embodied life; prārabdha shaping circumstances while allowing contextual mitigation.

Application: In traditional settings, use multiple indicators before concluding; in modern terms, avoid deterministic readings and focus on risk-awareness and responsible leadership.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: court/household (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (series on facial/bodily lakṣaṇas and their phala)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily omens in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats physical features as indicators of impending danger or changing fortune, especially for rulers, reflecting the text’s broader concern with recognizing signs and acting with prudence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It does not describe the soul’s post-death journey directly; instead, it focuses on pre-death indicators (ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa)—signs that may warn of death or a downturn, prompting timely dharmic action.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to treat warning signs—health, conduct, and leadership decisions—with seriousness, and to respond through ethical living, humility, and timely corrective action rather than fatalism.