Shloka 18
Lakṣaṇas of Men: Feet, Shanks, Hair, Genitals, Abdomen, and Lines of Longevity
Forehead & Palm
कनिष्ठिकां समाश्रित्य आयूरेखा समाविशेत् / अच्छिन्ना वा विभक्ता वा स जीवेच्छरदः शतम्
kaniṣṭhikāṃ samāśritya āyūrekhā samāviśet / acchinnā vā vibhaktā vā sa jīveccharadaḥ śatam
कनिष्ठिकां समाश्रित्य या आयूरेखा समाविशेत्, सा अच्छिन्ना वा विभक्ता वा, स शरदः शतं जीवेत्।
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Variations in āyū-rekhā (toward little finger; unbroken or segmented) can still signify long life.
Vedantic Theme: Karma’s outcomes are nuanced; external signs admit multiple configurations without negating auspicious results.
Application: Avoid over-reading imperfections; maintain steady life-supporting habits even when indicators seem mixed.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.63.16-17 (definition and placement of āyū-rekhā); Garuda Purana 1.63.19 (general assertion of longevity line and enjoyment)
FAQs
This verse treats the āyūrekhā as a prognostic sign: when it trends toward the little finger, it indicates full longevity—up to a hundred years—even if the line is segmented.
It does not describe the post-death journey here; instead, it gives a bodily omen (life-line) used to infer remaining lifespan, which precedes the soul’s later after-death narratives elsewhere in the text.
Use it as a traditional reflection on life’s uncertainty: prioritize dharma and ethical living rather than relying solely on omens, while recognizing the text’s cultural interest in auspicious signs.