Shloka 71

Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life

Devanagari script

अतः सलक्षणा ज्ञेया द्वात्रिंशल्लक्षणैर्न हि / पितुर्गृहे वर्धमाना सदापि स्वकुटुंबं श्रेष्ठयितुं खगेन्द्र

Transliteration

ataḥ salakṣaṇā jñeyā dvātriṃśallakṣaṇairna hi / piturgṛhe vardhamānā sadāpi svakuṭuṃbaṃ śreṣṭhayituṃ khagendra

Translation

ஆகையால், ஓ ககேந்திர (கருடா)! உண்மையான சுலக்ஷணப் பெண்ணை வெறும் முப்பத்திரண்டு வெளிப்புற அறிகுறிகளால் மட்டும் மதிப்பிடக் கூடாது. தந்தையின் வீட்டில் வளர்ந்தாலும், அவள் எப்போதும் தன் வருங்கால குடும்பத்தை உயர்த்தவே விரும்புவாள்.

Word by Word

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (हेतुवाचक-अव्यय)

• sa-lakṣaṇāḥ: having marks
• sa-lakṣaṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: lakṣaṇena saha = having marks

• jñeyāḥ: are to be known
• jñeyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु) + yat (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (यत्/तव्यत्-भाव); Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural; 'to be known'

• dvātriṃśat-lakṣaṇaiḥ: by thirty-two marks
• dvātriṃśat-lakṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvātriṃśat (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural; द्विगु-समास: dvātriṃśat-lakṣaṇāni = thirty-two marks

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation scope)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• pituḥ: of the father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular

• gṛhe: in the house
• gṛhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी) Singular

• vardhamānā: growing up
• vardhamānā: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛdh (धातु) + śānac (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शानच्); Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; agreeing with implied 'sā'

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• sva-kuṭumbam: one's own family
• sva-kuṭumbam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṭumba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; कर्मधारय: svaṃ kuṭumbam = one's own family

• śreṣṭhayitum: to make excellent/to improve
• śreṣṭhayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śreṣṭhaya (नामधातु from śreṣṭha) (धातु) + tumun (कृदन्त)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्); purpose (प्रयोजन)

• khaga-indra: O king of birds
• khaga-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन) Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: khagānām indraḥ

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspiciousness is not merely external lakṣaṇa; true śrī/saubhāgya is shown by disposition to uphold and ennoble the future family.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa and saṃskāra over rūpa: inner tendencies (vāsanā/saṃskāra) are more determinative than outward signs.

Application: In choosing a spouse/partner, prioritize character, responsibility, and family-uplifting conduct over purely external checklists.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (discussion of strī-lakṣaṇa and their limits)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khagendra)

FAQs

What is the importance of the “thirty-two signs” (dvātriṁśal-lakṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse cautions that external lakṣaṇas alone are not sufficient; true auspiciousness is confirmed by enduring character and the capacity to uplift the household.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on dharma?

It aligns with dharma-based evaluation: inner disposition (conduct, intent, steadiness) is valued over outward markers, especially for sustaining a righteous and harmonious family life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize virtues and conduct—responsibility, compassion, and commitment to family welfare—over superficial checklists when judging compatibility or “auspiciousness.”