Shloka 69

Devanagari script

गम्भीराक्षा ईश्वराः स्युर्मन्त्रिणः स्थूलचक्षुषः / नीलोत्प लाक्षा विद्वांसः सौभाग्यं श्यामचक्षुषाम्

Transliteration

gambhīrākṣā īśvarāḥ syurmantriṇaḥ sthūlacakṣuṣaḥ / nīlotpa lākṣā vidvāṃsaḥ saubhāgyaṃ śyāmacakṣuṣām

Translation

గంభీరమైన మరియు నిలకడగా ఉండే కళ్ళు కలవారు పాలకులు అవుతారు; పెద్ద కళ్ళు ఉన్నవారు మంత్రులు అవుతారు. నల్ల కలువ వంటి కళ్ళు ఉన్నవారు పండితులు మరియు నల్లని కళ్ళు ఉన్నవారు అదృష్టవంతులు.

Word by Word

• गम्भीराक्षाः: (those) with deep eyes
• गम्भीराक्षाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम्भीर (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘गम्भीराः अक्षीणि यस्य’ (deep-eyed)

• ईश्वराः: lords, rulers
• ईश्वराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• स्युः: would be / are said to be
• स्युः: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• मन्त्रिणः: ministers, counselors
• मन्त्रिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• स्थूलचक्षुषः: large-eyed
• स्थूलचक्षुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘स्थूलं चक्षुः यस्य’ (large-eyed)

• नीलोत्पलाक्षाः: blue-lotus-eyed
• नीलोत्पलाक्षाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पल (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपमान-समासभावः—‘नीलोत्पलवत् अक्षीणि यस्य’ (eyes like blue lotuses)

• विद्वांसः: learned people
• विद्वांसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सौभाग्यम्: good fortune
• सौभाग्यम्: Karma/Phala (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd: Nom/Acc), एकवचन; वाक्ये फल/गुणवाचकं (predicate noun)

• श्यामचक्षुषाम्: of the dark-eyed
• श्यामचक्षुषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘श्यामचक्षुषः’ इत्यस्य षष्ठी—(of) dark-eyed (persons)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the Garuda Purana’s instructional dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Outer marks (especially eyes) are read as indicators of inner disposition and social suitability (ruler/counselor/learned/fortunate).

Vedantic Theme: Guna-karma-vibhaga (tendencies inferred through observable traits) within vyavaharika (pragmatic) order, not ultimate Self-knowledge.

Application: Use as a traditional heuristic in choosing leaders/advisers and in self-reflection; avoid fatalism—treat as probabilistic signs, cultivate virtues regardless of features.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (lakshana/anga-samudrika context; adjacent verses on eyes/eyebrows/forehead signs)

FAQs

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

This verse treats physical traits—especially the eyes—as traditional indicators of temperament and destiny, mapping them to roles like ruler, counselor, and scholar, and to general auspiciousness.

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

It does not address the after-death journey here; instead, it appears in a conduct/omens context, describing qualities and fortunes inferred from eye features.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a cultural lens for observing character and aptitude, while prioritizing dharmic conduct, learning, and ethical judgment over mere external appearance.