Shloka 21

Devanagari script

चरणस्येन ऋक्षेण अल्पायुर्जायते नरः / विदशगमनं जानौ गुह्यस्थे परदारवान्

Transliteration

caraṇasyena ṛkṣeṇa alpāyurjāyate naraḥ / vidaśagamanaṃ jānau guhyasthe paradāravān

Translation

चरणे ऋक्षचिह्ने सति नरस्य अल्पायुरिति कथ्यते। जानुनि विदशगमनचिह्ने सति, गुह्यस्थे चिह्ने सति परदारासक्तिः सूच्यते॥

Word by Word

• चरणस्येन: by (the one) situated at the feet
• चरणस्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः—चरणे स्थः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• ऋक्षेण: by the constellation (ṛkṣa)
• ऋक्षेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• अल्पायुḥ: short-lived (one)
• अल्पायुḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—अल्पं आयुः यस्य

• जायते: is born / becomes
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• विदशगमनम्: going to the gods (heavenly realm)
• विदशगमनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदश (प्रातिपदिक) + गमन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—विदशानां गमनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• जानौ: in the knee
• जानौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• गुह्यस्थे: when situated in the groin/secret part
• गुह्यस्थे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—गुह्ये स्थः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• परदारवान्: one who has another’s wife (adulterous)
• परदारवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—परस्य दाराः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + वत् (मतुप्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bodily signs are read as karmic indicators of lifespan and ethical tendencies (especially sexual misconduct).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala manifesting in embodied conditions (śarīra as upādhi reflecting past actions).

Application: Use as a cautionary mirror: restrain from parastrī-gamana, cultivate self-control, and treat ominous signs as prompts for reform and devotion rather than fatalism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.60 (lakṣaṇa/saṃudrika-śāstra style bodily marks and their results)

Characters & Entities

• Departed (vidaśa)

FAQs

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

This verse treats bodily signs as indicators of lifespan and character, linking external marks with inner tendencies and likely life outcomes.

How does this verse connect moral conduct with destiny?

It explicitly associates a mark on the private parts with paradāra (adultery), presenting ethical behavior as something that can be inferred and that shapes one’s fate.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a prompt for self-restraint and ethical living—especially guarding against sexual misconduct—and as a reminder that choices strongly influence one’s life trajectory.