Garuda Purana — Moksha Sadhana Prakarana, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

उदरे किञ्चिदाधिक्ये ह्रस्वे पादे च कर्णयोः / शिखाधिक्यं विना विप्र भार्यायां च शिवस्य च

Transliteration

udare kiñcidādhikye hrasve pāde ca karṇayoḥ / śikhādhikyaṃ vinā vipra bhāryāyāṃ ca śivasya ca

Translation

Hỡi brāhmaṇa, bụng hơi đầy đặn, bàn chân và đôi tai hơi ngắn—nhưng không có sự quá mức nơi chỏm tóc (śikhā)—được nói là những dấu hiệu nơi người vợ, và cũng nơi Śiva.

Word by Word

• उदरे: in the belly
• उदरे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (locative)

• किञ्चित्: somewhat/a little
• किञ्चित्: सम्बन्ध (Modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: परिमाण/अल्पार्थक अव्यय (indeclinable: ‘a little/somewhat’)

• आधिक्ये: in (a state of) excess
• आधिक्ये: अधिकरण (Condition-locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘in excess/when there is excess’

• ह्रस्वे: short
• ह्रस्वे: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with पादे

• पादे: in the foot
• पादे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• कर्णयोः: in the two ears
• कर्णयोः: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/षष्ठी विभक्ति, द्विवचन; here सप्तमी (locative dual) ‘in the two ears’

• शिखा: tuft/topknot
• शिखा: सम्बन्ध (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (as first member in compound)

• आधिक्यम्: excess
• आधिक्यम्: कर्ता (Topic/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; here प्रथमा (subject-like: ‘excess’)

• विना: without
• विना: सम्बन्ध (Exclusion/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवाद/वर्जनार्थक अव्यय (preposition-like: ‘without’), governs accusative/ablative sense

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन) विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भार्यायाम्: in the wife
• भार्यायाम्: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (genitive)

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

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa-śāstra: reading bodily features as indicators of disposition/fortune; norms around śikhā and bodily proportion.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti-lakṣaṇa as empirical sign within vyavahāra (conventional reality), not ultimate self (ātman) definition.

Application: Exercise caution in judging by appearances; if used, apply with humility and corroborate with conduct (ācāra).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.22 (lakṣaṇa discussion continues: defects and inferences)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily signs mentioned in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats specific bodily features as traditional indicators used in dharma-oriented assessments, linking external traits with customary classifications in household and religious contexts.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

Within the Preta Kanda’s instructional style, it presents compact, rule-like descriptions—typical of dharma manuals—alongside other guidance for right conduct and traditional observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a window into historical dharma culture (e.g., śikhā and social customs) while prioritizing ethical conduct, compassion, and scriptural study over judging people solely by physical traits.