Shloka 35

Devanagari script

शूरः स्यान्महिषग्रीवः शास्त्रात्तो मृगकण्ठकः / कम्बुग्रीवश्च नृपतिर्लम्बकण्ठो ऽतिभक्षकः

Transliteration

śūraḥ syānmahiṣagrīvaḥ śāstrātto mṛgakaṇṭhakaḥ / kambugrīvaśca nṛpatirlambakaṇṭho 'tibhakṣakaḥ

Translation

ధైర్యవంతుడిని ‘మహిషగ్రీవుడు’ (ఎద్దు/మహిషంలాంటి మెడ) అంటారు; శాస్త్రార్థంలో నిపుణుడిని ‘మృగకంఠుడు’ అంటారు. రాజును ‘కంబుగ్రీవుడు’ (శంఖంలాంటి మెడ) అంటారు; అతిగా తినేవాడిని ‘లంబకంఠుడు’ అని వర్ణిస్తారు.

Word by Word

• शूरः: a hero; brave man
• शूरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masculine)

• स्यात्: may be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (may be)

• महिषग्रीवः: one with a buffalo-like neck
• महिषग्रीवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष + ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘महिषस्य ग्रीवा इव/महिषग्रीवः’ (Nominative singular, masculine)

• शास्त्रात्तः: taken/derived from scripture (or weapon)
• शास्त्रात्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र + आत्त (कृदन्त; √दा/आदत्ते with आ-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘शास्त्रात् आत्तः’ (ablative-tatpurusha sense: taken from scripture/weapon) (Nominative singular, masculine)

• मृगकण्ठकः: one with a deer-like throat
• मृगकण्ठकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग + कण्ठक (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘मृगस्य कण्ठकः/कण्ठः’ (Nominative singular, masculine)

• कम्बुग्रीवः: one with a conch-like neck
• कम्बुग्रीवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कम्बु + ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘कम्बोः (शङ्खस्य) ग्रीवा इव’ (Nominative singular, masculine)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• नृपतिः: king
• नृपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ + पति (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘नॄणां पतिः’ (Nominative singular, masculine)

• लम्बकण्ठः: one with a long neck
• लम्बकण्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लम्ब + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—‘लम्बः कण्ठः यस्य/यः’ (Nominative singular, masculine)

• अतिभक्षकः: excessive eater
• अतिभक्षकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + भक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभावः—‘अति भक्षकः’ (excessive eater) (Nominative singular, masculine)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra; general speaker attribution for Garuda Purana discourse sections)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bodily marks are read as indicators of disposition—valor, learning, rulership, or overindulgence.

Vedantic Theme: Guna-lakshana: outward traits as signs of inner tendencies; reminder that self-mastery (especially of appetite) supports dharma.

Application: Cultivate learning and restraint; treat such ‘marks’ as prompts for self-assessment rather than deterministic labels.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana physiognomy/lakṣaṇa passages in the same chapter context

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse uses traditional lakṣaṇa language to connect visible traits (like neck form) with inner qualities such as bravery, scriptural understanding, royal bearing, or gluttony—serving as a moral-ethical teaching rather than mere description.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it teaches ethical discernment in embodied life—especially self-control (avoiding atibhakṣaṇa) and cultivation of śāstra-artha—qualities that shape karma and future outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate learning with understanding (śāstra-artha), practice moderation in food (avoid atibhakṣaka), and build courage and discipline—using the verse as a reminder that habits and character are reflected in one’s overall bearing.