Shloka 91

Devanagari script

दीर्घाः स्तनान्तरं बाहुदन्तलोचननासिकाः / नराणां लक्षणं प्रोक्तं वदामि स्त्रीषु लक्षणम्

Transliteration

dīrghāḥ stanāntaraṃ bāhudantalocananāsikāḥ / narāṇāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ proktaṃ vadāmi strīṣu lakṣaṇam

Translation

పురుషుల లక్షణాలు—అవయవాల దీర్ఘత్వం, స్తనాల మధ్య అంతరం, భుజాలు, దంతాలు, నేత్రాలు, నాసిక—ఇవి చెప్పబడినవి. ఇప్పుడు స్త్రీలలోని విశిష్ట లక్షణాలను నేను చెప్పుదును.

Word by Word

• dīrghāḥ: long
• dīrghāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• stanāntaram: space between the breasts
• stanāntaram: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana + antara (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (stanayoḥ antara = space between breasts)

• bāhu-danta-locana-nāsikāḥ: arms, teeth, eyes, and noses
• bāhu-danta-locana-nāsikāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu + danta + locana + nāsikā (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (arms, teeth, eyes, noses)

• narāṇām: of men
• narāṇām: Shashthi-Sambandha (Possessive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• lakṣaṇam: characteristic, mark
• lakṣaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• proktam: said, declared
• proktam: Kriya-Visheshana (Predicate adjective/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prokta (कृदन्त; √vac्, क्त; pra- उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• vadāmi: I speak, I tell
• vadāmi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• strīṣu: among women
• strīṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• lakṣaṇam: characteristic
• lakṣaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Classification of human traits by gender as part of traditional social knowledge (vyavahāra-vidyā).

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa differentiation (male/female bodily forms) within prakṛti; Self remains unspoken but implied as beyond categories.

Application: Read as historical anthropology; apply the meta-skill—structured observation and careful categorization—ethically and without stereotyping.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65.92-93 (female/royal auspicious marks, especially feet)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse signals a structured teaching where Vishnu classifies observable bodily features as “lakṣaṇas,” first for men and then for women, as part of a broader traditional framework of identifying characteristics.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it functions as a transition within a discourse on human characteristics, shifting from male marks to female marks.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a historical-textual insight into classical lakṣaṇa traditions, while prioritizing ethical conduct (dharma) over external appearance in personal judgment.