Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

उन्नतानि च ह्रस्वनि जङ्घा ग्रीवा च लिङ्गकम् / पृष्ठं चत्वारि रक्तानि करताल्वधरा नखाः

Transliteration

unnatāni ca hrasvani jaṅghā grīvā ca liṅgakam / pṛṣṭhaṃ catvāri raktāni karatālvadharā nakhāḥ

Translation

อวัยวะบางส่วนกล่าวว่าสูงเด่น บางส่วนสั้น ได้แก่ หน้าแข้ง คอ และอวัยวะกำเนิด อีกทั้งแผ่นหลัง ส่วนทั้งสี่ที่มีสีแดงเรื่อ ฝ่ามือ ฝ่าเท้า ริมฝีปากล่าง และเล็บ ก็ถูกพรรณนาไว้ด้วย

Word by Word

• unnatāni: raised, elevated
• unnatāni: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: unnata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √nam् + ud- उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• hrasvāni: short
• hrasvāni: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hrasva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• jaṅghā: shank, lower leg
• jaṅghā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṅghā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• grīvā: neck
• grīvā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grīvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• liṅgakam: genital organ (male organ)
• liṅgakam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅgaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd: Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन

• pṛṣṭham: back
• pṛṣṭham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• catvāri: four
• catvāri: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāri (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• raktāni: red
• raktāni: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √rañj्, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• karatālu: palm (of the hand)
• karatālu: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara + tālu (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kara-sya tālu = palm of the hand)

• adharāḥ: lower lips
• adharāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• nakhāḥ: nails
• nakhāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śarīra-lakṣaṇa as a traditional indicator for assessing constitution and fortune (saubhāgya/aiśvarya).

Vedantic Theme: Deha as upādhi (instrument/field) rather than the Self; observation without explicit ātma-vicāra.

Application: Use as a conventional checklist in physiognomic assessment; cultivate detachment by seeing the body as a set of traits, not identity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65.90-93 (continuation of bodily lakṣaṇas)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing bodily features in the Garuda Purana?

This verse participates in a technical description of bodily characteristics, used in the text to categorize observable marks and relate them to broader doctrinal discussions about embodiment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by detailing features of embodiment, it supports the Garuda Purana’s wider framework where the soul’s journey is discussed alongside the conditions and marks associated with birth and the lived body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to study scripture carefully and avoid superstition: the Garuda Purana’s larger ethical thrust emphasizes dharma and karma over obsession with external marks.