Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

निम्नं वक्रमपुत्राणां कृपणानां च ह्रस्वकम् / सम्पूर्णं भोगिनां कान्तं श्मश्रु स्निग्धं शुभं मृदु

Transliteration

nimnaṃ vakramaputrāṇāṃ kṛpaṇānāṃ ca hrasvakam / sampūrṇaṃ bhogināṃ kāntaṃ śmaśru snigdhaṃ śubhaṃ mṛdu

Translation

अपुत्राणां निम्नं वक्रं च भवति, कृपणानां ह्रस्वं; भोगिनां तु सम्पूर्णं कान्तं—श्मश्रु स्निग्धं शुभं मृदु च।

Word by Word

• निम्नम्: low, depressed
• निम्नम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular); विशेषण

• वक्रम्: crooked, curved
• वक्रम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular); विशेषण

• अपुत्राणाम्: of the childless
• अपुत्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive plural); ‘पुत्र’ इत्यस्य नञ्-पूर्वकः

• कृपणानाम्: of the miserly/wretched
• कृपणानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive plural)

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

• ह्रस्वकम्: short
• ह्रस्वकम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular); विशेषण

• सम्पूर्णम्: full, complete
• सम्पूर्णम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्गयुक्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular); विशेषण

• भोगिनाम्: of the enjoyers/wealthy
• भोगिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive plural)

• कान्तम्: beautiful, pleasing
• कान्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular); विशेषण

• श्मश्रु: beard
• श्मश्रु: Adhikarana/Visaya (Topic/that described)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular)

• स्निग्धम्: smooth, oily, glossy
• स्निग्धम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-निष्पन्न विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular); विशेषण

• शुभम्: auspicious, good
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular); विशेषण

• मृदु: soft
• मृदु: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular); विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmic and ethical dispositions are reflected in bodily features; balanced enjoyment (bhoga within dharma) yields auspicious, pleasing marks.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala operating through the body-mind instrument (śarīra as upādhi); guṇa/saṃskāra impressions externalize as lakṣaṇas.

Application: Cultivate generosity and responsible enjoyment; avoid miserliness and harshness; read such descriptions as self-audit rather than fatalism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (lakṣaṇa/karma-phala bodily marks context)

FAQs

What is the importance of karmic signs described in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a diagnostic idea: inner merit or demerit (especially linked with generosity, family-line duties, and ethical enjoyment) is said to manifest outwardly as pleasing or deficient physical traits.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking conduct (like miserliness versus balanced enjoyment and dharmic living) with visible outcomes, the text frames karma as a lawful force shaping embodied experience—supporting the wider Garuda Purana theme that one’s actions determine conditions in life and beyond.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dāna (generosity), avoid kṛpaṇatā (stinginess), and live enjoyments within dharma—treating prosperity and pleasure as responsibilities rather than mere possession.