Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

नाभ्यां गुल्फे हनुरर्ङ्घ्योश्च स्कन्धे द्विजे नेत्रे त्वधरोष्ठेधिकं च / त्रयोविंशत्या लक्षणैश्चापि युक्ता शची तथा नवदोषैश्च युक्ता

Transliteration

nābhyāṃ gulphe hanurarṅghyośca skandhe dvije netre tvadharoṣṭhedhikaṃ ca / trayoviṃśatyā lakṣaṇaiścāpi yuktā śacī tathā navadoṣaiśca yuktā

Translation

ตรวจที่สะดือ ข้อเท้า คางและเท้า ไหล่ ฟัน ดวงตา และริมฝีปากล่าง ผู้หญิงที่ประกอบด้วยลักษณะมงคลยี่สิบสามประการกล่าวว่าเป็นดุจ ‘ศจี’ แต่ก็อาจเกี่ยวข้องกับโทษเก้าประการด้วย

Word by Word

• nābhyām: in the navel (region)
• nābhyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन) (Vedic/variant usage; sense: 'in/at the navel region')

• gulphe: in the ankle
• gulphe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gulpha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• hanuḥ: jaw
• hanuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/elliptic listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन) (listed as a locus/feature)

• arṅghyoḥ: in the two feet/soles (arṅghya)
• arṅghyoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arṅghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• skandhe: in the shoulder
• skandhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dvije: in the tooth (lit. 'twice-born')
• dvije: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• netre: in the two eyes
• netre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative particle (विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय)

• adhara-oṣṭha-adhikam: excess in the lower lip
• adhara-oṣṭha-adhikam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhara (प्रातिपदिक) + oṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: 'excess in the lower lip'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• trayoviṃśatyā: with twenty-three
• trayoviṃśatyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trayoviṃśati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• lakṣaṇaiḥ: with marks
• lakṣaṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि)

• yuktā: endowed
• yuktā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śacī: Śacī
• śacī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śacī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• nava-doṣaiḥ: with nine faults
• nava-doṣaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); Dvigu: 'nine दोषs'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• yuktā: endowed
• yuktā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious marks can indicate excellence (Śacī-like), yet doṣas may coexist; discernment requires holding both śubha-lakṣaṇa and doṣa together.

Vedantic Theme: Mixture of guṇas in prakṛti; even high endowments in the phenomenal realm remain conditioned and mixed (saṃsāra’s composite nature).

Application: Avoid idealization: when evaluating character/compatibility, consider both positive indicators and potential faults; cultivate virtues rather than relying on external signs alone.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mythic-celestial reference

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (lists of lakṣaṇas and doṣas; this verse uniquely juxtaposes 23 marks with 9 doṣas)

Characters & Entities

• Śacī

FAQs

What is the importance of lakṣaṇa (auspicious signs) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames lakṣaṇa as a traditional method of assessing auspicious qualities through observable features, contrasting them with doṣas (blemishes) to indicate mixed outcomes in character and fortune.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it appears in a section cataloging lakṣaṇas and doṣas, reflecting the Purana’s broader aim of linking conduct and qualities with karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a historical-cultural lens: prioritize ethics, compatibility, and dharmic conduct over superficial judgments, while recognizing that the text often pairs “signs” with the idea of personal discipline and virtue.