Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

अन्धकूपगभीराक्षो लंबकर्णौष्ठनासिकः / लंबगुल्फो वक्रपादः कुनखी श्यावदन्तकः

Transliteration

andhakūpagabhīrākṣo laṃbakarṇauṣṭhanāsikaḥ / laṃbagulpho vakrapādaḥ kunakhī śyāvadantakaḥ

Translation

ดวงตาของเขาลึกจมดุจบ่อมืด; หู ริมฝีปาก และจมูกยาวห้อยลง. ข้อเท้ายาว เท้าคดงอ; เล็บผิดรูป และฟันคล้ำดำ

Word by Word

• अन्धकूपगभीराक्षः: having eyes deep like a dark well
• अन्धकूपगभीराक्षः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्धकूप + गभीर + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः—‘अन्धकूपवत् गभीराणि अक्षीणि यस्य’ (deep eyes like a dark well)

• लंबकर्णौष्ठनासिकः: with long ears, lips, and nose
• लंबकर्णौष्ठनासिकः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लम्ब + कर्ण + ओष्ठ + नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/बहुपद-समासः—(ears, lips, nose) long

• लंबगुल्फः: with long ankles
• लंबगुल्फः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लम्ब + गुल्फ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वक्रपादः: with crooked feet
• वक्रपादः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्र + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कुनखी: having bad/deformed nails
• कुनखी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कु + नखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘नखिन्’ (having nails) with prefix कु- (bad)

• श्यावदन्तकः: with dark teeth
• श्यावदन्तकः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याव + दन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The body can manifest ominous marks indicating inner disorder and impending misfortune; heed signs and correct conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā (impermanence) and dehābhimāna-bheda (loosening identification with the body) through contemplation of bodily frailty.

Application: Use such descriptions as a prompt for restraint, purification, and remembrance of death; seek dharmic living and devotion rather than bodily pride.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (portents/marks and death-signs context); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: consequences of papa and fear of Yama as moral deterrent

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Yama
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of describing such bodily deformities in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses vivid physical imagery to teach that sinful karma manifests as suffering and degradation in Yama’s domain, making the moral law (dharma) tangible to the listener.

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

Within the Preta Kanda narrative, such descriptions indicate the preta’s experience in Yama’s realm, where the consequences of actions are encountered as specific forms of torment and altered embodiment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as an ethical warning: avoid harmful actions and cultivate dharma (truthfulness, restraint, compassion), since the text frames after-death suffering as a direct outcome of one’s deeds.