Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

वक्रान्तैः पद्मपत्राभैर्लोचनैः सुखभागिनः / मार्जारलोचनैः पाप्मा दुरात्मा मधुपिङ्गलैः

Transliteration

vakrāntaiḥ padmapatrābhairlocanaiḥ sukhabhāginaḥ / mārjāralocanaiḥ pāpmā durātmā madhupiṅgalaiḥ

Translation

ผู้มีดวงตางามอ่อนโค้งดุจกลีบบัว ย่อมเป็นผู้มีส่วนแห่งความสุข. แต่ผู้บาปใจชั่วมีดวงตาดุจแมว เป็นสีมธุพิงคละ คือเหลืองปนน้ำตาล.

Word by Word

• वक्रान्तैः: with curved/turned
• वक्रान्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पद्मपत्राभैः: with lotus-petal-like
• पद्मपत्राभैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पद्मपत्रस्य आभा/सदृशता)

• लोचनैः: with eyes
• लोचनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सुखभागिनः: partakers of happiness
• सुखभागिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + भागिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सुखस्य भागी)

• मार्जारलोचनैः: with cat-like eyes
• मार्जारलोचनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मार्जार (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मार्जारस्य लोचनानि)

• पाप्मा: a sinful person
• पाप्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दुरात्मा: evil-minded person
• दुरात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (दुष्ट आत्मा)

• मधुपिङ्गलैः: with honey-brown/tawny
• मधुपिङ्गलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (मधुवत् पिङ्गल)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sattvic qualities are symbolized by lotus-like eyes and correlate with sukha; tamasic/pāpa disposition is symbolized by predatory/cat-like gaze.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-lakṣaṇa: sattva brings clarity and harmony; tamas/rajas distort perception and conduct.

Application: Cultivate sattva (truthfulness, compassion, purity) to refine one’s ‘gaze’—how one sees and intends; be cautious of predatory intent in social interactions without reducing people to appearances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (eye signs and moral/fortune outcomes)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing eyes (lotus-like vs cat-like) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses bodily markers symbolically to contrast inner virtue and inner sin, teaching that sattvic conduct leads to auspicious qualities while pāpa distorts one’s disposition and expression.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

It links moral character (puṇya/pāpa) with observable traits, reinforcing the broader Preta-kanda theme that one’s actions shape one’s experience and condition in the after-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sattva through truthfulness, compassion, restraint, and clean living; the teaching emphasizes that inner ethics reshape outer behavior and perception over time.