Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

अङ्गुष्ठमूलजैः पुत्री स्याद्दीर्घाङ्गुलिपर्वकः / दीर्घायुः सुभगश्चैव निर्धनो विरलाङ्गुलिः

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭhamūlajaiḥ putrī syāddīrghāṅguliparvakaḥ / dīrghāyuḥ subhagaścaiva nirdhano viralāṅguliḥ

Translation

若纹线或印记生于拇指之根，则预示得女。指节修长者，被说寿命长且有福相；而手指稀疏、间距甚大者，则被称为贫困之人。

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठमूलजैः: by/with (marks) arising from the base of the thumb
• अङ्गुष्ठमूलजैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ-मूल-ज (प्रातिपदिक; अङ्गुष्ठ=thumb, मूल=root/base, ज=born/produced)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (हेतौ/लक्षणे)

• पुत्री: a daughter
• पुत्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be; may be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• दीर्घाङ्गुलिपर्वकः: having long finger-joints/phalanges
• दीर्घाङ्गुलिपर्वकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ-अङ्गुलि-पर्वक (प्रातिपदिक; दीर्घ=long, अङ्गुलि=finger, पर्वक=having joints/phalanges)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दीर्घायुः: long-lived
• दीर्घायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ-आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक; दीर्घ=long, आयुस्=life)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुभगः: fortunate, handsome
• सुभगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-भग (प्रातिपदिक; सु=good, भग=fortune)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• निर्धनः: poor
• निर्धनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-धन (प्रातिपदिक; निर्=without, धन=wealth)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• विरलाङ्गुलिः: having widely spaced/sparse fingers
• विरलाङ्गुलिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरल-अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक; विरल=sparse, अङ्गुलि=finger)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṃudrika-lakṣaṇa: bodily marks correlate with prārabdha outcomes—daughter, long life, good fortune, or poverty.

Vedantic Theme: Embodiment as a karmic instrument; worldly outcomes arise from prior causes though dharma can refine future karma.

Application: Treat predictions as prompts to strengthen dharma: if signs suggest poverty, intensify charity, skill, and discipline; for longevity/fortune, cultivate gratitude and righteous living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.65: continuing palm/finger mark interpretations.

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily signs (samudrika lakshana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bodily features as traditional indicators of life outcomes—such as longevity, fortune, or poverty—used within the Purana’s wider dharmic instruction literature.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It does not directly describe the post-death journey; instead, it gives omens about worldly life (longevity, prosperity), which indirectly relate to karma and embodied results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a cultural-heritage reference rather than deterministic judgment—prioritize ethical action (dharma) and disciplined living over physical-omen based conclusions.