Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

अल्पे त्वतनयो लिङ्गेशिराले ऽथ सुखी नरः / स्थूलग्रन्थियुते लिङ्गे भवेत्पुत्रादिसंयुतः

Transliteration

alpe tvatanayo liṅgeśirāle 'tha sukhī naraḥ / sthūlagranthiyute liṅge bhavetputrādisaṃyutaḥ

Translation

లింగం చిన్నగా, శిరలతో కూడి ఉంటే పురుషుడు సంతానరహితుడైనా సుఖంగా జీవిస్తాడు; కానీ లింగంలో పెద్ద గ్రంథులు (గడ్డలు) ఉంటే అతడు పుత్రాదులతో యుక్తుడవుతాడు.

Word by Word

• अल्पे: when (it is) small
• अल्पे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• अतनयः: sonless
• अतनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—नञ्-तत्पुरुष (अतनयः = ‘पुत्र-रहितः’)

• लिङ्गे: in the organ
• लिङ्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शिराले: when (it is) veiny
• शिराले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘शिराल’ = veiny

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नरः: man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्थूलग्रन्थियुते: when furnished with large knots/swellings
• स्थूलग्रन्थियुते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल + ग्रन्थि + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (स्थूल-ग्रन्थिभिः युतम्/युक्तम्)

• लिङ्गे: in the organ
• लिङ्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुत्रादिसंयुतः: endowed with sons and the like
• पुत्रादिसंयुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र + आदि + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पुत्रादिभिः संयुतः = ‘पुत्र-आदि-युक्तः’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Different bodily configurations correspond to different karmic distributions: sukha without sons vs progeny with other supports.

Vedantic Theme: Diversity of karmic fruition (phala-bheda) within saṃsāra; not all सुख is tied to lineage.

Application: Encourages non-reductionist view of life outcomes; cultivate dharma and contentment regardless of progeny status.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65.9-13 (continuation)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily signs (lakṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats physical characteristics as indicators of life outcomes such as progeny and comfort, reflecting the Purana’s lakṣaṇa-based diagnostic tradition.

How does this verse explain fate or karma through the body?

It implies that outcomes like having children can be inferred from bodily features, suggesting an external sign of prior causes (karmic tendencies) manifesting in the present body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional cultural lens rather than deterministic judgment—focus on ethical living, responsibility, and compassionate family conduct over omen-based certainty.