Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

दीर्घजङ्घो दीर्घशिश्रस्त्वेकाण्डश्चैकनासिकः / रक्तश्मश्रू रक्तरोमा वक्रास्यः संप्रकीर्तितः

Transliteration

dīrghajaṅgho dīrghaśiśrastvekāṇḍaścaikanāsikaḥ / raktaśmaśrū raktaromā vakrāsyaḥ saṃprakīrtitaḥ

Translation

اس کی پنڈلیاں لمبی اور عضوِ خاص بھی دراز؛ ایک ہی خصیہ اور ایک ہی نتھنا۔ داڑھی سرخ، بدن کے بال سرخی مائل؛ اور منہ ٹیڑھا—یہی نشان بیان کیے گئے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• दीर्घजङ्घः: long-shanked
• दीर्घजङ्घः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ + जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दीर्घशिश्रः: having a long penis
• दीर्घशिश्रः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ + शिश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• एकाण्डः: having one testicle/one egg
• एकाण्डः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एकनासिकः: having one nostril/nose
• एकनासिकः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• रक्तश्मश्रू: red-bearded
• रक्तश्मश्रू: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त + श्मश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रक्तरोमाः: red-haired (body hair)
• रक्तरोमाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त + रोमान्/रोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘रोमन्’ (hair) stem; विशेषण

• वक्रास्यः: with a crooked mouth/face
• वक्रास्यः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्र + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• संप्रकीर्तितः: is described/has been proclaimed
• संप्रकीर्तितः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Distorted bodily marks are presented as indicators of impending danger or karmic burden; heed warnings and reform life.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya (dispassion) through confronting the body’s vulnerability and the unreliability of sense-based identity.

Application: Treat such descriptions as a spur to self-restraint (food, drink, sexuality), confession/atonement where appropriate, and increased devotion and charity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (series of bodily marks/arishta-lakshana)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a diagnostic description of the preta-state, illustrating that post-death suffering can manifest as deformity and imbalance, reinforcing the Purana’s ethical message about karma and consequences.

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

By depicting a distorted preta-form, the verse implies that the soul’s journey is shaped by karmic residues; before attaining a stable next birth, the being may experience an afflicted subtle/liminal condition marked by suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and dharma, and support proper antyeṣṭi and śrāddha observances for the departed—so the transition is aided and harmful karmic tendencies are reduced.