Chapter on the Marks of the Five Mahāpuruṣas — Bṛhat-Pārāśara-Horāśāstra, Adhyāya 75

पञ्चमहापुरुषलक्षणाध्यायः

The complete Chapter on the Marks of the Five Mahāpuruṣas chapter of the Bṛhat-Pārāśara-Horāśāstra — all 22 verses, each in the original Sanskrit with VedicSpace's clean-room English translation, cited by śloka. Translated from the Chaukhamba (Devachandra Jha) edition and audited against the printed plates.

Śloka 1 — Definition of the pañca-mahāpuruṣa condition — strong Mars etc. in svakṣetra or ucca, in a kendra

अथ वच्मि लक्ष्म पञ्च-महापुरुषजं च ते । सबलैः स्वर्क्षतुङ्गस्थैः केन्द्रगैर्भूमिजादिभिः ॥ १ ॥

Now I declare to you the marks that arise from the five Mahāpuruṣas — (produced) by Mars and the rest when they are strong, stationed in their own rāśi or in ucca, and placed in a kendra.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 1

Śloka 2 — The names of the five yogas

रुचको भद्रहंसौ च मालव्यशशकावपि । क्रमादेते निगदिता महापुरुषसंज्ञकाः ॥ २ ॥

Rucaka, Bhadra and Haṃsa, and also Mālavya and Śaśaka — these, in order, are declared to bear the designation Mahāpuruṣa.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 2

Śloka 3 — Rucaka lakṣaṇa — build, complexion, temperament

अत्युत्साहः शुभ्रकान्तिर्लम्बास्योऽतिबलस्तथा । सुभ्रूः कृष्णालको युद्ध-प्रेमी सुरुचिमांस्तथा ॥ ३ ॥

(The Rucaka man is) exceedingly energetic, of bright lustre, long-faced, and very strong; with fine eyebrows, black locks of hair, fond of battle, and of refined taste.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 3

Śloka 4 — Rucaka lakṣaṇa — complexion, conduct, limbs

लोहितश्यामलः शत्रु-हन्ता क्रूरः पतिर्नृणाम् । विवेकशीलो मन्त्रज्ञः कृशाङ्घ्रिः स्तेनसत्तमः ॥ ४ ॥

Of a dark-red complexion, a slayer of enemies, harsh, a lord of men; possessed of discernment, knowing counsel (mantra), slender-legged, and foremost among thieves.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 4

Śloka 5 — Rucaka lakṣaṇa — bodily marks, skills, stature

वज्रेष्वासपाशवीणाचक्रोक्षाङ्कयुतः शये । मन्त्राभिचारयोर्दक्षो विप्रभक्तः शताङ्गुलः ॥ ५ ॥

He bears the marks of the vajra, bow, noose, vīṇā, discus and bull [on his hands]; skilled in mantra and in abhicāra (hostile magic), devoted to brāhmaṇas, and one hundred aṅgulas in height.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 5

Śloka 6 — Rucaka lakṣaṇa — proportions and weight; address to Maitreya

समास्यमध्यो रुचकस्तथैव द्विजसत्तम ! । तुलासहस्रप्रमितो दैवज्ञैः परिकीर्तितः ॥ ६ ॥

O best of the twice-born! Likewise the Rucaka is even in face and in waist, and is proclaimed by the astrologers to be of the measure of a thousand tulās (in weight).

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 6

Śloka 7 — Rucaka phala — territory ruled, lifespan, manner of death

पात्यब्दसप्ततिं यावद् विन्ध्यसह्याद्रिनीवृतम् । आयुधेनाग्निना याति देवलोकं स पूरुषः ॥ ७ ॥

He protects, for as long as seventy years, the land encircled by the Vindhya and Sahya mountains; by weapon or by fire that man goes to the world of the gods.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 7

Śloka 8 — Bhadra lakṣaṇa — chest, gait, arms, learning

पीवरोरःस्थलः सिंह-निभो द्विपगतिर्नरः । आजानुदीर्घबाहुश्च योगज्ञः सर्वतः सुधीः ॥ ८ ॥

A man with a broad, full chest, resembling a lion, with the gait of an elephant; with arms long down to the knees, knowing yoga, and wise in every respect.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 8

Śloka 9 — Bhadra lakṣaṇa — beard, disposition, bodily marks

शोभनश्मश्रुपादश्च कामुकः सात्त्विकस्तथा । शंख-चक्र-गदा-बाण-द्विप-चिह्न-समन्वितः ॥ ९ ॥

With handsome beard and feet, amorous, and of sāttvika nature; endowed with the marks of conch, discus, mace, arrow and elephant.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 9

Śloka 10 — Bhadra lakṣaṇa — palm and sole marks, learning, features

हलध्वजसरोजाङ्कै-रङ्कितांघ्रिकरः पुमान् । शास्त्रज्ञश्चारुनासश्चासितालकयुतः सुधीः ॥ १० ॥

A man whose feet and hands are marked with the signs of the plough, the banner and the lotus; a knower of the śāstras, with a fine nose, dark locks, and wise.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 10

Śloka 11 — Bhadra lakṣaṇa/phala — independence, dependants, wealth, family

स्वाधीनः सर्वकृत्येषु स्वकीयजनपालकः । सुहृद्भिर्युक्तविभवः कलत्रात्मजसंयुतः ॥ ११ ॥

Independent in all his undertakings, a protector of his own people; his wealth shared with his friends, and endowed with wife and sons.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 11

Śloka 12 — Bhadra phala — kingship, region, lifespan

कुशलो नृपतिर्मध्य-प्रदेशपरिपालकः । यावदब्दशतं भाति भद्रसंज्ञस्तु पूरुषः ॥ १२ ॥

Skilful, a king, a guardian of the middle region; the man called Bhadra shines for as long as a hundred years.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 12

Śloka 13 — Haṃsa lakṣaṇa — complexion, voice, features, humour

गौरो हंसस्वनः प्रांशु-नासिकः सुमुखस्तथा । पिङ्गलाक्षः श्लेष्मलश्च जातो रक्तनखो बुधः ॥ १३ ॥

Fair-complexioned, with a voice like a swan's, high-nosed, and of pleasing face; tawny-eyed, of phlegmatic (kapha) constitution, born with red nails, and learned.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 13

Śloka 14 — Haṃsa lakṣaṇa — head, cheeks, feet, and bodily marks

वृत्तमूर्धा नृपः पीनकपोलश्चारुपादपि । पद्ममीनाङ्कुशेष्वास-कम्बुखट्वाङ्गलक्ष्मभिः ॥ १४ ॥

Round-headed, a king, with plump cheeks and beautiful feet as well; (marked) with the signs of lotus, fish, goad, bow, conch and khaṭvāṅga —

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 14

Śloka 15 — Haṃsa lakṣaṇa — marked limbs, desire, height, love of water

अङ्कितांघ्रिशयः कामी न तुष्टः स्त्रीषु जातुचित् । षण्णवत्यंगुलमितः वारिकेलिसुखान्वितः ॥ १५ ॥

— his feet [and hands] so marked; lustful, never at any time satisfied with women; measuring ninety-six aṅgulas, and delighting in the pleasure of water-sport.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 15

Śloka 16 — Haṃsa phala — region ruled, enjoyment, death

जाह्नवीयमुनामध्यदेशपो हंसपूरुषः । मृतिमेति शताब्दान्तेऽनुभूय निखिलं सुखम् ॥ १६ ॥

The Haṃsa man is ruler of the region lying between the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) and the Yamunā; having experienced every kind of happiness, he meets death at the end of a hundred years.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 16

Śloka 17 — Mālavya lakṣaṇa — lustre, waist, teeth and lips, fragrance

इन्दुकान्तिप्रभो मध्ये कृशः समरदच्छदः । मध्योन्नतः सुगन्धश्च स्वल्परक्तांगसंयुतः ॥ १७ ॥

Radiant with a lustre like the moon's, slender at the waist, with even teeth and lips; of middling elevation (stature), fragrant, and having limbs faintly reddish.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 17

Śloka 18 — Mālavya lakṣaṇa — arms, voice, teeth, facial measurements

आजानुबाहुर्नागेन्द्र-निनदः समशुभ्रदत् । दैर्घ्यविस्तारयोर्विंशदशाङ्गुलमिताननः ॥ १८ ॥

With arms reaching to the knees, a voice like a lordly elephant's, and teeth even and white; his face measuring twenty and ten aṅgulas in length and in breadth respectively.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 18

Śloka 19 — Mālavya phala — kingdom, lifespan, destination

ससिन्धुमालवपतिर्मालव्यपुरुषः स्मृतः । सप्तत्यब्दं सौख्यमनु-भूयैति त्रिदशालयम् ॥ १९ ॥

The Mālavya man is held to be lord of Mālava together with Sindhu; having enjoyed happiness for seventy years, he goes to the abode of the thirty gods.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 19

Śloka 20 — Śaśa lakṣaṇa — face, teeth, build, disposition

ह्रस्वास्यदशनो वीरः कृशकुक्षिः समोन्नतः । चारुजंघः कृशो मध्ये परच्छिद्रैकवित् सुधीः ॥ २० ॥

With a small face and small teeth, heroic, lean-bellied, evenly tall; with handsome shanks, slender at the waist, uniquely skilled at detecting the faults of others, and wise.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 20

Śloka 21 — Śaśa lakṣaṇa — office, terrain, knowledge, conduct, palm/sole marks

सेनापतिः क्षमोऽरण्य-दुर्गमेषु च दन्तुरः । रसायनज्ञश्चपलोऽङ्गनासक्तोऽन्यवित्तयुक् ॥ मुरजायुधवीणास्रग्-रेखाचिह्नितपच्छयः ॥ २१ ॥

A commander of armies, capable, at home in forests and impassable places, with protruding teeth; a knower of rasāyana, fickle, attached to women, and possessed of others' wealth; his feet [and hands] marked with the signs of drum, weapon, vīṇā, garland and lines.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 21

Śloka 22 — Śaśa phala; closing summary of the five

नृपोऽसौ ससुखं जीवन् पाति क्ष्मां सप्ततिं समाः । शशाभिधश्चैवमेते पञ्चधा राजपूरुषाः ॥ २२ ॥

He, a king, living in happiness, protects the earth for seventy years — and he is the one named Śaśa. Thus these are the five kinds of royal men.

BPHS Adhyāya 75, śloka 22