Shloka 102

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

Devanagari script

न पृथू बालेन्दुनिभे भ्रुवौ चाथ ललाटकम् / शुभमर्धेन्दुसंस्थानमतुङ्गं स्यादलोमशम्

Transliteration

na pṛthū bālendunibhe bhruvau cātha lalāṭakam / śubhamardhendusaṃsthānamatuṅgaṃ syādalomaśam

Translation

புருவங்கள் அகலமாக இருக்கக் கூடாது; அவை இளஞ்சந்திரன் போல் மென்மையாக இருக்க வேண்டும். நெற்றி மங்களமாக அரைச்சந்திர வடிவில், மிக உயரமாக இல்லாமல், ரோமமின்றி இருக்க வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• पृथू: broad (two)
• पृथू: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual)

• बालेन्दुनिभे: like the young moon (two)
• बालेन्दुनिभे: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• भ्रुवौ: eyebrows (two)
• भ्रुवौ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

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

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (particle: then/now)

• ललाटकम्: forehead
• ललाटकम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्धेन्दुसंस्थानम्: having the shape of a half-moon
• अर्धेन्दुसंस्थानम्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अतुंगम्: not high, not prominent
• अतुंगम्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (नञ्) + तुङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समास

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अलोमशम्: hairless, not hairy
• अलोमशम्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (नञ्) + लोमश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समास

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra, describing auspicious bodily marks)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mādhurya through moderation: auspiciousness expressed as proportion, restraint, and lunar softness in facial features.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva as balance and clarity; the ‘cooling’ lunar metaphor for a composed mind reflected in form.

Application: In depiction or contemplation, emphasize moderation and symmetry; as personal practice, cultivate calmness and restraint rather than excess.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65.99-103

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious bodily signs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats facial features (eyebrows and forehead) as traditional indicators of śubha-lakṣaṇa—outer signs associated with auspiciousness and refined character within Ācāra-oriented teachings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by outlining śubha-lakṣaṇas, the text links dhārmic refinement and auspicious qualities with a well-ordered life, which the Garuda Purana elsewhere connects to favorable post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to prioritize inner virtues and disciplined conduct (ācāra); treat such physiognomic descriptions as cultural markers of auspiciousness rather than deterministic judgments about a person.