Shloka 3

Strīlakṣaṇa: Auspicious Marks, Domestic Ideals, and Saubhāgya Practices

Devanagari script

वक्रकेशा च या कन्या मण्डलाक्षी च या भवेत् / भर्ता च म्रियते तस्या नियतं दुः खभागिनी

Transliteration

vakrakeśā ca yā kanyā maṇḍalākṣī ca yā bhavet / bhartā ca mriyate tasyā niyataṃ duḥ khabhāginī

Translation

หญิงสาวผู้มีผมหยิกงอและดวงตากลม ว่ากันว่าสามีย่อมถึงแก่ความตายเป็นแน่ และนางย่อมเป็นผู้มีส่วนแห่งความทุกข์

Word by Word

• वक्रकेशा: having curly/warped hair
• वक्रकेशा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वक्राः केशाः यस्याः)

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

• या: who (she)
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कन्या: girl
• कन्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मण्डलाक्षी: round-eyed
• मण्डलाक्षी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मण्डले इव अक्षिणी यस्याः)

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

• या: who (she)
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भर्ता: husband
• भर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• म्रियते: dies
• म्रियते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नियतम्: certainly; inevitably
• नियतम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from नि+यम्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• दुःखभागिनी: a sharer of sorrow; unfortunate
• दुःखभागिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + भागिनी (प्रातिपदिक; from भज्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दुःखस्य भागिनी)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Misfortune is predicted through bodily signs; suffering is presented as ‘niyata’ (seemingly fixed) outcome.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha-karma and the limits of prediction; tension between determinism and ethical agency.

Application: Read as a historical belief-system; in practice, reject stigmatization and support those facing bereavement with compassion and community care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.64 (contrasting auspicious/inauspicious marks and outcomes)

FAQs

What is the importance of omens like physical traits in the Garuda Purana?

This verse reflects a traditional omen-based framework where certain bodily features are treated as indicators of future domestic fortune or misfortune, especially regarding marriage outcomes.

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

It does not describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it focuses on worldly prognostics connected with marriage and the experience of sorrow in household life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a historical-cultural belief rather than a deterministic rule—prioritize ethical conduct, mutual care, and responsible choices over judging fate by physical traits.