Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

भगे नेत्रे च हस्ते च स्तने कुक्षौ तथैव च / भारत्यपेक्षया पञ्चभिर्न्यूना त्वस्ति लक्षणैः

Transliteration

bhage netre ca haste ca stane kukṣau tathaiva ca / bhāratyapekṣayā pañcabhirnyūnā tvasti lakṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

Sa bahagi ng ari, sa mga mata, sa mga kamay, sa mga dibdib, at gayundin sa tiyan—kung ihahambing sa babaeng Bhāratī (Indiyano)—ikaw ay kulang ng limang tanda sa katawan.

Word by Word

• bhage: in the pudendum/sexual organ
• bhage: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), 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)

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

• haste: in the hand
• haste: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• stane: in the breast
• stane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kukṣau: in the two flanks/abdomen-sides
• kukṣau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kukṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन)

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

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/अवधारण अव्यय)

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

• bhāratī-apekṣayā: in comparison with Bhāratī
• bhāratī-apekṣayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāratī (प्रातिपदिक) + apekṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: bhāratyāḥ apekṣā = 'in comparison with Bhāratī'

• pañcabhiḥ: by five (with five)
• pañcabhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन), (gender per agreement)

• nyūnā: deficient/less
• nyūnā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Physiognomic comparison is used to classify auspiciousness/fortune; the verse exemplifies how cultural norms shape ‘ideal’ markers.

Vedantic Theme: Limited: illustrates loka-dharma and saṃskāra-based valuation; reminds that empirical criteria are contingent (vyāvahārika) rather than ultimate (pāramārthika).

Application: Read critically as a period-specific social text; avoid using such criteria for discrimination; translate the intent into concern for health and dignity rather than body-based ranking.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: region/cultural reference

Cross References

Related Themes: 3.22.48 on the list of marks; continuation of strī-lakṣaṇa enumeration

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Bhāratī

FAQs

What is the importance of lakṣaṇa (bodily marks) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses lakṣaṇa as a diagnostic-style description—specific physical features are compared to a standard (here, a Bhāratī), showing how the text classifies and distinguishes forms by observable marks.

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

Indirectly: in the Preta Kanda, such descriptive markers support the broader narrative of identifying conditions and states connected with embodied existence; it complements discussions on the subtle/physical condition rather than detailing the soul’s route explicitly.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that the Purana often teaches through careful observation and classification—encouraging discernment, self-examination, and a disciplined approach to dharma-oriented living.