Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

दक्षिणावर्तचलितमूत्रा भिश्च नृपाः स्मृताः / विकीर्णमूत्रा निः स्वाश्च प्रधानसुखदायिकाः

Transliteration

dakṣiṇāvartacalitamūtrā bhiśca nṛpāḥ smṛtāḥ / vikīrṇamūtrā niḥ svāśca pradhānasukhadāyikāḥ

Translation

Các bậc vương giả được ghi nhận là người có dòng tiểu tiện xoay theo chiều bên phải; còn kẻ tiểu tiện tản mác thì bị nói là nghèo túng. Những dấu hiệu ấy được xem là điềm chủ yếu chỉ bày (và dẫn đến) an lạc cùng phú quý.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणावर्तचलितमूत्राः: those whose urination moves in a rightward spiral
• दक्षिणावर्तचलितमूत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + आवर्त (प्रातिपदिक) + चलित (कृदन्त; चल् धातु) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'right-turning' + 'moving' + 'urination' (as descriptor)

• भिः: (textual corruption)
• भिः: Sambandha (Textual residue/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भि (अव्यय/पाठदोष)
• Form: पाठभ्रंश; सम्भवतः 'एभिः' (तृतीया बहुवचन) अथवा पूर्वपद-समाप्ति

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

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are remembered/are said to be
• स्मृताः: Karma (Predicate participle/कर्म-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विकीर्णमूत्राः: those with scattered urination
• विकीर्णमूत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + कीर्ण (कृदन्त; कृ धातु/किर् धातु-सम्भव) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'scattered' + 'urination'

• निःस्वाः: poor
• निःस्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• प्रधानसुखदायिकाः: givers of excellent happiness
• प्रधानसुखदायिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + दायिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; प्रधान-सुख-दायिक (giving chief happiness)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Subtle bodily patterns are read as karmic indicators of sovereignty or poverty; prosperity is framed as signaled by embodied order vs dispersion.

Vedantic Theme: Order (niyati) in prārabdha expresses as bodily regularity; yet ultimate worth is not reducible to bodily marks.

Application: Use the teaching as a reminder to cultivate orderliness and health; avoid judging others by bodily signs; focus on ethical means of prosperity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65 (lakṣaṇa-based status indicators)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily omens (śakuna/lakṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats certain involuntary bodily patterns as traditional indicators of one’s worldly station—such as rulership or poverty—showing that the text also preserves omen-lore alongside dharma teachings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it focuses on in-life indicators of fortune and status, which in the broader Purana are often linked to prior karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a cultural record of traditional physiognomy/omen interpretation; for ethical living, prioritize dharma and karma over omens when making decisions.