Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

शुष्कैर्निश्वा विशुष्कैश्च दुर्भगाः परिकीर्तिताः / पुष्पगन्धे नृपाः शुक्रे मधुगन्धे धनं बहुः

Transliteration

śuṣkairniśvā viśuṣkaiśca durbhagāḥ parikīrtitāḥ / puṣpagandhe nṛpāḥ śukre madhugandhe dhanaṃ bahuḥ

Translation

جن کی سانس خشک اور نہایت کھردری ہو وہ بدقسمت کہے گئے ہیں۔ پھولوں جیسی خوشبو ہو تو بادشاہت کی علامت، منی جیسی بو ہو تو دولت و قوتِ مردانگی، اور شہد جیسی خوشبو ہو تو کثیر مال و زر کی نشانی ہے۔

Word by Word

• शुष्कैः: with dry (ones)
• शुष्कैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण/सह), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• निश्वा: the breath (exhalation)
• निश्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• विशुष्कैः: with very dry (ones)
• विशुष्कैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधकः अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• दुर्भगाः: unfortunate
• दुर्भगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्भग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• परिकीर्तिताः: are described/declared
• परिकीर्तिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• पुष्पगन्धे: in (the case of) flower-scent
• पुष्पगन्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प-गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक; पुष्प + गन्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• शुक्रे: in semen
• शुक्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• मधुगन्धे: in honey-scent
• मधुगन्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु-गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक; मधु + गन्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• बहुः: much
• बहुः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (धनम् इति)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bodily signs and sensory markers are read as karmic indicators of fortune, status, and prosperity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala manifesting in the body (śarīra as prārabdha-karman’s field).

Application: Observe health and bodily dryness; treat severe dryness as inauspicious/possibly pathological; interpret perceived fragrances as traditional omens with caution and ethical restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (śarīra-lakṣaṇa/strī-puṃ-lakṣaṇa context; adjacent verses on odor, semen, and body marks)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily omens (nimitta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats breath-quality and perceived fragrances as nimittas—signs used to infer fortune or misfortune, such as kingship (flower-fragrance) or wealth (honey-fragrance).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the post-death journey; instead, it belongs to an omens/signs context in the Ācāra Kāṇḍa, focusing on indicators of worldly destiny (bhāgya) rather than preta- or naraka-topics.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the teaching as a reminder to observe health and conduct: persistent “dry breath” can signal imbalance and hardship, while the broader intent encourages mindful living rather than superstition.