Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

भूपानाममलं श्लक्ष्णं विपरीतं च दुः खिनाम् / महा दुः खं दुर्भगाणां स्त्रीमुखं पुत्रमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

bhūpānāmamalaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ viparītaṃ ca duḥ khinām / mahā duḥ khaṃ durbhagāṇāṃ strīmukhaṃ putramāpnuyāt

Translation

రాజులకు (సంతానఫలం) నిర్మలంగా, మృదువుగా ఉంటుంది; దుఃఖితులకు దానికి విరుద్ధం. దుర్భాగ్యులకు స్త్రీముఖసదృశమైన కుమారుడు మహాదుఃఖాన్ని కలిగిస్తాడు.

Word by Word

• भूपानाम्: of kings
• भूपानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• अमलम्: spotless/pure
• अमलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; (स्त्रीमुख-विशेषणम्)

• श्लक्ष्णम्: smooth
• श्लक्ष्णम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• विपरीतम्: opposite/contrary
• विपरीतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (कृदन्त/विशेषण; √इ (इण्) + वि, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

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

• दुःखिनाम्: of the unhappy
• दुःखिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• महा-दुःखम्: great sorrow
• महा-दुःखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• दुर्भगाणाम्: of the unfortunate
• दुर्भगाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्भग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• स्त्री-मुखम्: a woman's face
• स्त्री-मुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘स्त्रियाः मुखम्’

• पुत्रम्: a son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• आप्नुयात्: would obtain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (आप्नोति) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Birth characteristics and outcomes are framed as karmic fruition affecting family welfare; auspiciousness differs by social condition (ruler vs distressed).

Vedantic Theme: Karma and saṃskāra shaping embodiment and life-situations; the body as a field of prārabdha.

Application: In modern reading, treat as a historical omen-text: respond to fear with compassionate care for mother/child, avoid stigma, and focus on ethical support rather than deterministic judgment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (prognostic signs tied to offspring and fortune)

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-based signs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames bodily qualities and outcomes (like the nature of one’s child) as reflections of prior merit or misfortune, reinforcing the Purana’s emphasis on karmic causality.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it shows that experiences in embodied life—status, happiness, and even family outcomes—unfold according to accumulated karma, which later also shapes post-death consequences described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat fortune and difficulty as prompts for ethical action: cultivate dharma, charity, and self-control rather than pride in good outcomes or despair in adverse ones.