Shloka 90

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

Devanagari script

नेत्रान्तपादजिह्वौष्ठाः पञ्च सूक्ष्माणि सन्ति वै / दशनाङ्गुलिपर्वाणि नखकेशत्वचः शुभाः

Transliteration

netrāntapādajihvauṣṭhāḥ pañca sūkṣmāṇi santi vai / daśanāṅguliparvāṇi nakhakeśatvacaḥ śubhāḥ

Translation

Khóe mắt, bàn chân, lưỡi và môi—năm phần ấy quả thật là những chỗ tinh tế, mảnh nhạy. Các khớp của mười ngón tay, cùng với móng, tóc và da, cũng được xem là những dấu tướng cát tường đáng lưu ý.

Word by Word

• netra-anta-pāda-jihvā-uṣṭhāḥ: eyes, extremities, feet, tongue, and lips
• netra-anta-pāda-jihvā-uṣṭhāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra + anta + pāda + jihvā + uṣṭha (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (eyes/ends? + feet + tongue + lips)

• pañca: five
• pañca: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्याशब्द/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्याविशेषण; सामान्यतः अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable-like numeral)

• sūkṣmāṇi: subtle, fine
• sūkṣmāṇi: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• santi: are
• santi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• daśana-aṅguli-parvāṇi: teeth, fingers, and joints
• daśana-aṅguli-parvāṇi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśana + aṅguli + parvan (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (teeth, fingers, joints)

• nakha-keśa-tvacaḥ: nails, hair, and skin
• nakha-keśa-tvacaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakha + keśa + tvac (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (nails, hair, skin)

• śubhāḥ: auspicious, good
• śubhāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain bodily features are read as śubha-lakṣaṇas; attention to subtle parts implies refined observation and care.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-kṣetra (body as field of attributes) contrasted implicitly with the unchanging knower; not explicitly taught here.

Application: Mindful care of body (skin, hair, nails) as part of cleanliness and presentation; cultivate observational acuity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65.89-93 (same lakṣaṇa sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing subtle body parts in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies certain bodily regions as especially subtle/delicate and highlights features like nails, hair, and skin as auspicious—supporting the Purana’s broader instruction on the body’s constitution and dharmic understanding of the human form.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing bodily components and their qualities, it contributes to the Garuda Purana’s framework for understanding the embodied condition, which is foundational for later teachings on death, subtle embodiment, and post-death transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate mindful care of the body and speech (tongue/lips) and treat delicate parts with restraint and discipline—aligning physical conduct with dharma.