Shloka 10

Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life

Devanagari script

यस्मिन्करे शङ्खचक्रादिरेखा वर्तन्ते तन्नवमं प्राहुरार्याः / यस्यो दरं तन्तुरूपं सुपुष्टं वलित्रयैरङ्कितं सुंदरं च

Transliteration

yasminkare śaṅkhacakrādirekhā vartante tannavamaṃ prāhurāryāḥ / yasyo daraṃ tanturūpaṃ supuṣṭaṃ valitrayairaṅkitaṃ suṃdaraṃ ca

Translation

ఏ చేతిలో శంఖ-చక్రాది శుభచిహ్నాలవంటి రేఖలు కనిపిస్తాయో, దానిని ఆర్యులు తొమ్మిదవ లక్షణమని చెబుతారు. అలాగే ఎవరి ఉదరం తంతువలె దృఢంగా, పుష్టంగా, మూడు మడతలతో అందంగా గుర్తింపబడిందో, అతడు ధన్యుడు।

Word by Word

• yasmin: in whose
• yasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• kare: in the hand
• kare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• śaṅkha-cakra-ādi-rekhāḥ: lines such as conch and discus
• śaṅkha-cakra-ādi-rekhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + rekhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘शङ्खचक्रादिरेखाः’ = शङ्ख-चक्र-आदि-रेखाः (such lines as conch, discus, etc.)

• vartante: are present/occur
• vartante: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• navamam: ninth
• navamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘lakṣaṇam’ (understood)

• prāhuḥ: they declare
• prāhuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• āryāḥ: the sages
• āryāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• udaram: belly/abdomen
• udaram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tantu-rūpam: thread-like in form
• tantu-rūpam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tantu (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तन्तुरूपम्’ = तन्तोः रूपम् (thread-like); विशेषणं ‘udaram’

• su-puṣṭam: well-developed
• su-puṣṭam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + puṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √puṣ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘udaram’

• vali-trayaiḥ: with three folds
• vali-trayaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vali (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; ‘वलित्रयैः’ = त्रयो वलयः/वलयाः (three folds)

• aṅkitam: marked
• aṅkitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṅkita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √aṅk)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP); विशेषणं ‘udaram’

• sundaram: beautiful
• sundaram: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sundara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘udaram’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious lakṣaṇas indicate inner merit and dhārmic refinement; the body is read as a field of signs (nimitta) of past puṇya.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-saṃskāra reflected in embodiment; the guṇa/karma imprint manifests as observable traits (without asserting ultimate Self is the body).

Application: Cultivate dharma and sattva (truthfulness, restraint, devotion) rather than mere appearance; use such descriptions as symbolic ideals, not as grounds for pride or discrimination.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (lakṣaṇa-kathana sequence: enumerating auspicious marks)

Characters & Entities

• Aryas (noble sages)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious hand-lines (śaṅkha-cakra rekhā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats conch-and-discus-like lines on the palm as highly auspicious indicators, praised by the “ārya” sages as a superior (ninth) category of fortunate marks.

How does this verse relate to karma and dharmic merit?

In Garuda Purana’s traditional framing, auspicious bodily signs are presented as outward indicators of accumulated merit (puṇya) and a dharmic disposition, rather than as random traits.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to prioritize dharma and good conduct over mere external signs—treat “auspicious marks” as symbolic of inner virtues to be cultivated through ethical living and devotion.