Shloka 14

Lakṣaṇas of Men: Feet, Shanks, Hair, Genitals, Abdomen, and Lines of Longevity

Forehead & Palm

Devanagari script

चत्वारिंशच्च वर्षाणि हीनरेखस्तु जीवति / भिन्नाभिश्चैव रेखाभिरपमृत्युर्नरस्य हि

Transliteration

catvāriṃśacca varṣāṇi hīnarekhastu jīvati / bhinnābhiścaiva rekhābhirapamṛtyurnarasya hi

Translation

Người có các đường vạch yếu hoặc thiếu thì sống bốn mươi năm. Nhưng nếu các đường bị đứt gãy, rối loạn, thì cái chết yểu (apamṛtyu) sẽ giáng xuống người ấy.

Word by Word

• चत्वारिंशत्: forty
• चत्वारिंशत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे (varṣāṇi इति विशेष्ये), द्वितीया, बहुवचनार्थे; संख्याविशेषण

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

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कालपरिमाण

• हीनरेखः: one with deficient lines
• हीनरेखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन + रेख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारय (हीना रेखा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेष/विरोधबोधक-अव्यय (particle)

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भिन्नाभिः: split/broken
• भिन्नाभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘भिद्’ से; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; रेखाभिः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणबोधक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• रेखाभिः: by/with lines
• रेखाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अपमृत्युः: untimely death
• अपमृत्युः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप + मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (अप- = अकाल/अनिष्ट); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नरस्य: of the man
• नरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: for/indeed)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Irregular/broken bodily signs are read as indicators of disrupted life-course—apamṛtyu—reflecting adverse karmic momentum and negligence risks.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla’s unpredictability within saṃsāra; turn from fear to surrender and right action.

Application: Treat warnings as impetus for prāyaścitta-like self-correction: reduce harmful habits, increase charity, prayer, and safety; prepare for death with dignity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa discussions on death, messengers of Yama, and consequences of papa (general thematic link); Garuda Purana 1.63.10–13 (continuation of āyus-lakṣaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of apamṛtyu (untimely death) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats apamṛtyu as a recognizable fate indicated by inauspicious bodily signs (broken/irregular lines), emphasizing preparedness and corrective living rather than complacency.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by stressing lifespan and death-timing indicators, it frames death as a pivotal transition—encouraging timely dharmic conduct and ritual readiness for what follows after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to live ethically, maintain health and discipline, and keep end-of-life duties (family responsibilities, charity, spiritual practice) in order rather than assuming long life.