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Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

शूरः स्यान्महिषग्रीवः शास्त्रात्तो मृगकण्ठकः / कम्बुग्रीवश्च नृपतिर्लम्बकण्ठो ऽतिभक्षकः

Transliteration

śūraḥ syānmahiṣagrīvaḥ śāstrātto mṛgakaṇṭhakaḥ / kambugrīvaśca nṛpatirlambakaṇṭho 'tibhakṣakaḥ

Translation

Người dũng mãnh được nói là có cổ như trâu; người tinh thông ý nghĩa kinh điển có cổ họng như nai. Bậc quân vương được nói là có cổ như vỏ ốc tù và; còn kẻ ăn quá độ thì bị gọi là cổ dài.

Word by Word
शूरःa hero; brave man
शूरः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशूर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masculine)
स्यात्may be
स्यात्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√अस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (may be)
महिषग्रीवःone with a buffalo-like neck
महिषग्रीवः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमहिष + ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिकौ)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘महिषस्य ग्रीवा इव/महिषग्रीवः’ (Nominative singular, masculine)
शास्त्रात्तःtaken/derived from scripture (or weapon)
शास्त्रात्तः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootशास्त्र + आत्त (कृदन्त; √दा/आदत्ते with आ-)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘शास्त्रात् आत्तः’ (ablative-tatpurusha sense: taken from scripture/weapon) (Nominative singular, masculine)
मृगकण्ठकःone with a deer-like throat
मृगकण्ठकः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमृग + कण्ठक (प्रातिपदिकौ)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘मृगस्य कण्ठकः/कण्ठः’ (Nominative singular, masculine)
कम्बुग्रीवःone with a conch-like neck
कम्बुग्रीवः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकम्बु + ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिकौ)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘कम्बोः (शङ्खस्य) ग्रीवा इव’ (Nominative singular, masculine)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)
नृपतिःking
नृपतिः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनृ + पति (प्रातिपदिकौ)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘नॄणां पतिः’ (Nominative singular, masculine)
लम्बकण्ठःone with a long neck
लम्बकण्ठः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootलम्ब + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिकौ)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—‘लम्बः कण्ठः यस्य/यः’ (Nominative singular, masculine)
अतिभक्षकःexcessive eater
अतिभक्षकः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअति (अव्यय) + भक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभावः—‘अति भक्षकः’ (excessive eater) (Nominative singular, masculine)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra; general speaker attribution for Garuda Purana discourse sections)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bodily marks are read as indicators of disposition—valor, learning, rulership, or overindulgence.

Vedantic Theme: Guna-lakshana: outward traits as signs of inner tendencies; reminder that self-mastery (especially of appetite) supports dharma.

Application: Cultivate learning and restraint; treat such ‘marks’ as prompts for self-assessment rather than deterministic labels.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana physiognomy/lakṣaṇa passages in the same chapter context

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse uses traditional lakṣaṇa language to connect visible traits (like neck form) with inner qualities such as bravery, scriptural understanding, royal bearing, or gluttony—serving as a moral-ethical teaching rather than mere description.

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it teaches ethical discernment in embodied life—especially self-control (avoiding atibhakṣaṇa) and cultivation of śāstra-artha—qualities that shape karma and future outcomes.

Cultivate learning with understanding (śāstra-artha), practice moderation in food (avoid atibhakṣaka), and build courage and discipline—using the verse as a reminder that habits and character are reflected in one’s overall bearing.

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