Shloka 3

Lakṣaṇas of Men: Feet, Shanks, Hair, Genitals, Abdomen, and Lines of Longevity

Forehead & Palm

Devanagari script

विरूक्षपाण्डुरनखौ वक्रौ चैव शिरानतौ / सूर्पाकारौ च चरणौ संखुष्कौ विरलाङ्गुली

Transliteration

virūkṣapāṇḍuranakhau vakrau caiva śirānatau / sūrpākārau ca caraṇau saṃkhuṣkau viralāṅgulī

Translation

వారి నఖాలు రూకగా, పాండురంగా ఉండి; పాదాలు వంకరగా, శిరలు దిగజారినట్లుగా ఉండి; పాదాలు సూపు ఆకారంగా, సంధులు ఎండిపోయి సంకుచితమై, వేళ్లు విరళంగా దూరదూరంగా ఉంటాయి॥

Word by Word

• विरूक्षपाण्डुरनखौ: with rough, pale nails
• विरूक्षपाण्डुरनखौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + रूक्ष + पाण्डुर + नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; बहुविशेषण-समास (rough and pale nails), विशेषण

• वक्रौ: crooked
• वक्रौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying चरणौ)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• शिरानतौ: bent/marked with prominent veins
• शिरानतौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिरा + नत (नम्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; क्तान्त कृदन्त (‘bent with veins’/‘vein-bent’), विशेषण

• सूर्पाकारौ: shaped like a winnowing basket
• सूर्पाकारौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्प + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘having the shape of a winnowing basket’), विशेषण

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

• चरणौ: (two) feet
• चरणौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• संखुष्कौ: very dry, cracked
• संखुष्कौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + खुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• विरलाङ्गुली: with widely spaced toes
• विरलाङ्गुली: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरल + अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय (‘sparse/far-apart toes’), विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Inauspicious marks (rough pale nails, crookedness, drooping posture, winnow-shaped feet, dryness, sparse toes) are read as indicators of adverse karma or diminished vitality.

Vedantic Theme: Karmic impressions manifest as tendencies and conditions in embodied life (deha); yet ultimate Self remains untouched—this is a vyavahāric reading.

Application: Treat such descriptions as cautionary metaphors: attend to health, posture, and wellbeing; avoid stigmatizing people based on appearance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.63 (inauspicious lakṣaṇa subsections)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing such deformities in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses vivid bodily imagery to show that harmful karma ripens as suffering and degradation in the preta state, motivating ethical living and corrective rites (prayashchitta).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

In the Preta Kanda narrative, the departed being may experience a painful preta condition; the verse depicts the afflicted form that results from karmic burden while passing through Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and compassion, avoid harmful actions, and follow dharmic conduct and appropriate funerary duties so the departed is supported and one’s own karma is purified.