Chapter on the Fruits of the Marks of the Limbs (Aṅgalakṣaṇaphalādhyāya) — Bṛhat-Pārāśara-Horāśāstra, Adhyāya 81

अङ्गलक्षणफलाध्यायः

The complete Chapter on the Fruits of the Marks of the Limbs (Aṅgalakṣaṇaphalādhyāya) chapter of the Bṛhat-Pārāśara-Horāśāstra — all 82 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 — Maitreya's question — the marks of the limbs

जन्मेन्दुलग्नवशतः प्रोक्तं तु सदसत्फलम् । अथाङ्गलक्ष्मभिः स्त्रीणां वक्तुमर्हसि तन्मुने ॥ १ ॥

Maitreya said: The good and bad results dependent on the natal Moon and the lagna have been declared by you. Now, O muni, be pleased to tell that same fruit for women by the marks of their limbs.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 1

Śloka 2 — Parāśara's undertaking — Śiva-declared marks

मैत्रेय ! यदि जिज्ञासा तेऽस्ति वच्मि निशामय । अङ्गानां लक्षणं स्त्रीणां फलं चापि शिवोदितम् ॥ २ ॥

Parāśara said: O Maitreya! If such is your wish to know, I shall speak — listen. The marks of women's limbs, and their fruit as well, as declared by Śiva.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 2

Śloka 3 — Sole of the foot — auspicious form

मसृणं कोमलं नार्याः पत्तलं मांसलं तथा । समं लोहितमस्वेदं कोष्णं भोगप्रदं स्मृतम् ॥ ३ ॥

A woman's sole that is glossy, soft, [pattalam], fleshy, even, ruddy, free of sweat and mildly warm is held to be a giver of enjoyments.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 3

Śloka 4 — Sole of the foot — inauspicious form

कठोरं स्फुटितं रूक्षमसमं रक्तिमोज्झितम् । अमांसलं शूर्पसमं दुःखदारिद्र्यसूचकम् ॥ ४ ॥

A sole that is hard, cracked, dry, uneven, devoid of ruddiness, fleshless and shaped like a winnowing-basket indicates sorrow and poverty.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 4

Śloka 5 — Lines and figures on the sole — royal marks

पद्मकम्बुध्वजच्छत्र-मत्स्यस्वस्तिकचक्रयुक् । तलं पादस्याङ्गनायाः नूनं राज्ञीत्वसूचकम् ॥ ५ ॥

If a woman's sole bears a lotus, a conch, a banner, a parasol, a fish, a svastika or a discus, it surely indicates queenship.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 5

Śloka 6 — Lines on the sole — long upward line vs. animal-shaped lines

दीर्घोर्ध्वरेखा तत्रस्था-ऽखिलभोगप्रदा मता । वायसाऽऽखुभुजङ्गाभा यास्ता दौर्भाग्यदायिकाः ॥ ६ ॥

A long upward line placed there is held to give every enjoyment; but those lines that resemble a crow, a mouse or a serpent are givers of misfortune.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 6

Śloka 7 — Toe-nails

लोहिता वर्तुलाः प्रांशु-मसृणाः पन्नखाः शुभाः । असिताः खण्डिताग्रे तु सदाऽशुभकराः स्मृताः ॥ ७ ॥

Toe-nails that are red, round, raised and glossy are auspicious; but black ones, broken at the tip, are held to be always productive of ill.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 7

Śloka 8 — Big toe

पुष्टोऽङ्गुष्ठोऽपि वृत्तश्च प्रांशुः सौभाग्यसूचकः । चिपिटोऽतिलघुर्वक्रो दौर्भाग्यद्योतको मतः ॥ ८ ॥

A big toe that is well-filled, round and raised indicates good fortune; one that is flattened, very small or crooked is held to reveal misfortune.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 8

Śloka 9 — Toes — praised and censured forms

तनवोऽङ्गुलयः पुष्टाः पादजा वर्तुला घनाः । प्रशस्ता, ह्रस्वदीर्घाश्च कृशा अपि विगर्हिताः ॥ ९ ॥

Toes that are delicate, well-filled, round and close-set are praised; those that are short, long or thin are censured.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 9

Śloka 10 — Toes — length and its fruit

दीर्घाङ्गुल्यस्तु कुलटाः कृशाङ्गुल्योऽधना मताः । ह्रस्वाङ्गुल्यो मितायुष्या विबुधैः परिकीर्तिताः ॥ १० ॥

Women with long toes are unchaste; those with thin toes are held to be without wealth; those with short toes are declared by the wise to be of limited lifespan.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 10

Śloka 11 — Toes — flattened and overriding

चिपिटाङ्गुलिका दास्यः समारूढाङ्गुलीयुताः । विधवा दुःखिता नार्यो भवन्ति च पराश्रिताः ॥ ११ ॥

Women with flattened toes become servants; those whose toes ride one upon another become widowed, sorrowful and dependent on others.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 11

Śloka 12 — Raising dust while walking — pāṃśulā

मार्गे चलन्त्यां यस्यां तू-त्पतन्ति च रजांसि वै । पांशुला सा तु विज्ञेया वंशत्रितयनाशिनी ॥ १२ ॥

She at whose walking upon the road the dust flies up is to be known as pāṃśulā (dust-raiser), a destroyer of the three lineages.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 12

Śloka 13 — Toes not touching the ground while walking

यस्याश्चलन्त्याः पादस्य भूमिस्पृङ् न कनिष्ठिका । मध्यमाऽनामिका वापि सा वैधव्यमवाप्नुयात् ॥ १३ ॥

She whose little toe, or middle toe, or fourth toe does not touch the ground as she walks will obtain widowhood.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 13

Śloka 14 — Second toe longer than the big toe

अङ्गुष्ठतो यदि भवेत् तर्जनी महती स्त्रियाः । कौमारे सा पुमासक्ता ततोऽग्रे स्वैरिणी भवेत् ॥ १४ ॥

If a woman's second toe be larger than the big toe, she is attached to men already in maidenhood, and thereafter becomes wanton.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 14

Śloka 15 — Top of the foot — auspicious

स्निग्धं मृदु मांसलं चा-शिरालं स्वेदवर्जितम् । अभ्युन्नतं पादपृष्ठं स्त्रिया राज्ञीत्वसूचकम् ॥ १५ ॥

The top of a woman's foot, if smooth, soft, fleshy, free of prominent veins, without sweat and well-arched, indicates queenship.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 15

Śloka 16 — Top of the foot — inauspicious

अधोनतं शिरालं च रोमाढ्यं मांसवर्जितम् । दरिद्रा मार्गगा दासी दुर्भगासूचकं क्रमात् ॥ १६ ॥

Sunken downward, veiny, hairy and fleshless — these respectively indicate a woman who is poor, always on the road, a servant, and ill-fortuned.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 16

Śloka 17 — Heel

पार्ष्णौ समायां सुभगा स्थूलायां दुर्भगा मता । अभ्युन्नतायां कुलटा दीर्घायामतिदुःखिता ॥ १७ ॥

With an even heel she is fortunate; with a thick heel, ill-fortuned; with a high heel, unchaste; with a long heel, exceedingly sorrowful.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 17

Śloka 18 — Shanks (jaṅghā)

सुवृत्ते रोमरहिते मसृणे विशिरे तथा । चारुजङ्घे यदीये स्तः साङ्गना राजवल्लभा ॥ १८ ॥

She whose two shanks are well-rounded, hairless, glossy, without prominent veins and lovely — that woman is dear to a king.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 18

Śloka 19 — Knees

जानुद्वयं सुवृत्तं च मसृणं मांसलं शुभम् । स्वैरिण्या मांसरहितं दरिद्रायाः श्लथं मतम् ॥ १९ ॥

A pair of knees well-rounded, glossy and fleshy is auspicious. Fleshless knees belong to a wanton woman, and loose ones to a poor woman.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 19

Śloka 20 — Thighs — auspicious

वृत्तौ मृदू हस्तिशुण्डा-कृती रम्यौ घनौ तथा । अशिरालौ यदूरू स्तः सा राजमहिषी भवेत् ॥ २० ॥

She whose two thighs are round, soft, shaped like an elephant's trunk, pleasing, firm and without prominent veins becomes a king's chief queen.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 20

Śloka 21 — Thighs — inauspicious; and the waist's measure

सरोमौ चिपिटौ तौ तु दुर्भगाविधवाकरौ । कटिः समा चतुर्विंश-त्यङ्गुलप्रमिता शुभा ॥ २१ ॥

But those same thighs, if hairy, make her ill-fortuned, and if flattened, make her a widow. A waist that is even and of twenty-four aṅgulas' measure is auspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 21

Śloka 22 — Waist — praised and censured forms

अतिप्रशस्ता सुखदा समुच्छ्रितनितम्बिनी । लम्बानता सङ्कुचिता चिपिटा मांसवर्जिता ॥ २२ ॥

A waist bearing well-raised hips is highly praised and gives happiness. One that is long and sagging, contracted, flattened, fleshless —

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 22

Śloka 23 — Waist (conclusion) and buttocks

लघुः सरोमा विबुधैरुक्ता वैधव्यदायिका । मांसलश्चोन्नतः स्थूलो नितम्बः शोभनस्तथा । सौभाग्यसूचको वेध्यो दौर्भाग्यद्योतकोऽन्यथा ॥ २३ ॥

— small, or hairy: such a waist is declared by the wise to be a giver of widowhood. The buttocks, when fleshy, raised and full, are handsome and are to be known as indicating good fortune; otherwise they reveal misfortune.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 23

Śloka 24 — Bhaga (female genitalia) — auspicious

कूर्मपृष्ठनिभो रक्त-स्तुङ्गो मृदुलरोमयुक् । भगो मृगीदृशां सौम्यो निगूढमणिमानपि ॥ २४ ॥

The bhaga of doe-eyed women that resembles a tortoise's back, is ruddy, elevated, furnished with soft hair, and has its maṇi concealed, is benign.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 24

Śloka 25 — Bhaga — inauspicious

भगो मृगीखुरनिभ-श्चुल्लीकुक्षिसमोऽपि वा । सरोमोऽनावृतमुखो लक्ष्यनासो न शोभनः ॥ २५ ॥

A bhaga resembling a doe's hoof, or like the hollow of a stove, hairy, with an uncovered mouth and a visible nāsā, is not auspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 25

Śloka 26 — Bhaga — side of elevation and direction of the whorl

सव्योन्नतः कुमारीजः पुत्रजस्तु तदन्यथा । वामावर्तो भगो जातुचिन्न गर्भधरो मतः ॥ २६ ॥

Raised on the left, it produces daughters; otherwise (raised on the right) it produces sons. A bhaga with a leftward whorl is held never to conceive at all.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 26

Śloka 27 — Vasti (lower abdomen)

महती मृदुला वस्तिः शुभदाऽभ्युन्नता मनाक् । शिराला रोमरेखाढ्या शुभदा नैव सम्मता ॥ २७ ॥

A vasti that is large, soft and slightly raised gives good; one that is veiny and rich in lines of hair is not held to give good at all.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 27

Śloka 28 — Navel

नाभिर्गम्भीरा चावर्ता दक्षिणे त्वतिसौख्यदा । वामावर्ता स्फुटग्रन्थि-रुत्ताना सा त्वशोभना ॥ २८ ॥

A navel that is deep and whorled to the right gives great happiness; one whorled to the left, with a visible knot, and turned upward, is inauspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 28

Śloka 29 — Womb / belly (kukṣi) — auspicious

ततः कुक्षिः शुभा प्रोक्ता-ऽनेकपुत्रजनुःप्रदा । मण्डूकाभा तु सा राज-जन्मदा चातिशोभना ॥ २९ ॥

A broad kukṣi is declared auspicious, giving birth to many sons; one shaped like a frog gives birth to a king and is exceedingly auspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 29

Śloka 30 — Womb / belly — inauspicious

कुक्षिरभ्युन्नता यस्या वन्ध्या सा त्रिवलीयुता । संन्यस्ताऽथापि चावर्त-युक्ता चेद् दास्यवृत्तिकृत् ॥ ३० ॥

She whose kukṣi is raised up is barren; if it bears three folds she becomes a renunciate; and if it has a whorl she takes to the work of a servant.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 30

Śloka 31 — Flanks / sides

पुष्टे समे मृदू पार्श्वे नारीणां क्षेमदे स्मृते । शिराले चापि लोमाढ्ये प्रांशू चाशोभने मते ॥ ३१ ॥

Women's flanks, when well-filled, even and soft, are held to give welfare; when veiny, hairy and prominent they are held inauspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 31

Śloka 32 — Chest / heart region

नारीणां रोमरहितं समं च हृदयं शुभम् । अपि तासां विस्तृतं तल्लोमाढ्यं नहि शोभनम् ॥ ३२ ॥

A woman's chest that is hairless and even is auspicious; but the same, when broad and thick with hair, is not auspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 32

Śloka 33 — Breasts

कुचौ समौ पीवरौ च वर्तुलौ सुदृढौ शुभौ । अग्रे स्थूलौ मांसहीनौ पृथक्स्थौ न शुभौ मतौ ॥ ३३ ॥

Breasts that are even, full, round and firm are auspicious; those thick at the tip, fleshless, or set far apart are held not auspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 33

Śloka 34 — Breasts — which side is raised

सुतदा दक्षिणकुचो-न्नतौ वामा तु विश्रुता । वामस्तनोन्नतौ सा तु कुमारीजन्मदा मता ॥ ३४ ॥

When the right breast is the more raised she gives birth to sons; when the left breast is the more raised she is held to give birth to daughters.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 34

Śloka 35 — Nipples

कुचाग्रे शोभने स्त्रीणां सुवृत्तेऽपि च श्यामले । लम्बे कृशे नतेऽभ्यन्त-र्गदिते न शुभप्रदे ॥ ३५ ॥

Women's nipples that are well-rounded and dark are handsome; those that are long, thin, or pressed inward are declared not to give good.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 35

Śloka 36 — Shoulders

समावंसौ गुप्तसन्धी मांसलौ शोभनौ स्मृतौ । भुग्नौ सरोमौ निर्मांसा-वुन्नतौ नैव शोभनौ ॥ ३६ ॥

Shoulders that are even, with hidden joints and fleshy, are held handsome; those that are crooked, hairy, fleshless or high are not handsome at all.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 36

Śloka 37 — Armpits

कक्षे सुसूक्ष्मरोमेऽपि मसृणे मांसले शुभे । शिरालेऽपि च सस्वेदे गभीरे चाशुभे मते ॥ ३७ ॥

Armpits with very fine hair, smooth and fleshy, are auspicious; veiny, sweating and deep ones are held inauspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 37

Śloka 38 — Arms — auspicious

निर्लोमावशिरालौ चा-लक्ष्यास्थी सरलावपि । वृत्तौ बाहू सुप्रशस्तौ मृदुग्रन्थियुतौ स्त्रियाः ॥ ३८ ॥

A woman's arms that are hairless, without prominent veins, with bones not visible, straight, round and having soft joints are highly praised.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 38

Śloka 39 — Arms — inauspicious

शिरालावपि भुग्नौ तु मांसहीनौ लघू च तौ । सस्थूललोमौ वामानां दुःखक्लेशप्रदायकौ ॥ ३९ ॥

But those arms, if veiny, crooked, fleshless, short and covered with coarse hair, give women sorrow and affliction.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 39

Śloka 40 — Thumbs

हस्ताङ्गुष्ठौ तु वामानां पद्मकोरकसन्निभौ । शुभप्रदौ तथा भुग्नौ दुर्बलौ क्लेशदौ स्मृतौ ॥ ४० ॥

Women's thumbs, when like a lotus-bud, give good; when crooked and weak they are held to give affliction.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 40

Śloka 41 — Palm — auspicious

मध्योच्छ्रितं लोहितं चा-च्छिद्रं करतलं मृदु । स्तोकरेखान्वितं वेद्यं स्त्रीणामतिसुखप्रदम् ॥ ४१ ॥

A palm raised in the middle, ruddy, without gaps, soft, and marked with few lines is to be known as giving women great happiness.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 41

Śloka 42 — Palm — lines, absence of lines, veins

वैधव्यं बहुरेखाभि-र्निर्धनत्वमरेखया । शिराभिर्भिक्षुवृत्तित्वं स्त्रीणां करतले भवेत् ॥ ४२ ॥

On a woman's palm, many lines give widowhood, absence of lines gives destitution, and veins give a beggar's livelihood.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 42

Śloka 43 — Back of the hand

निर्लोमं मांसलं हस्त-पृष्ठं कोमलमुत्तमम् । शिरावृतं सरोमं च नतं दौर्भाग्यलक्षणम् ॥ ४३ ॥

The back of the hand, hairless, fleshy and soft, is best; covered with veins, hairy and sunken, it is a mark of misfortune.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 43

Śloka 44 — Palm-lines — the auspicious line on the left hand

वृत्तापि लोहिता स्पष्टा गभीरा मसृणा तथा । पूर्णा सौभाग्यदा प्रोक्ता रेखा वामकरे स्त्रियाः ॥ ४४ ॥

A line on a woman's left hand that is well-curved, ruddy, distinct, deep, smooth and unbroken is declared to give good fortune.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 44

Śloka 45 — Palm-marks — fish, svastika, lotus

मीनाङ्कतस्तु सुभगा सधना स्वस्तिकाङ्कतः । पद्मचिह्नेन राज्ञी स्या-दपि माता च भूपतेः ॥ ४५ ॥

By the mark of a fish she is fortunate; by the mark of a svastika, wealthy; by the sign of a lotus she becomes a queen and also the mother of a king.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 45

Śloka 46 — Palm-marks — right whorl, conch, tortoise, parasol

दक्षिणावर्तचिह्नेन वल्लभा चक्रवर्तिनः । कम्बुकूर्मच्छत्रचिह्नै राजमाताऽङ्गना मता ॥ ४६ ॥

By the sign of a rightward whorl she becomes the beloved of a universal emperor; by the signs of conch, tortoise and parasol the woman is held to be the mother of a king.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 46

Śloka 47 — Left-hand marks — elephant, horse, bull, balance

वामहस्ते स्त्रिया रेखा द्विपाश्ववृषभाकृतिः । तुलाकाराऽथवा चेत्स्याद् वणिग्भार्या तदा हि सा ॥ ४७ ॥

If on a woman's left hand there be a line shaped like an elephant, a horse or a bull, or in the form of a balance, then she is the wife of a merchant.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 47

Śloka 48 — Palm-marks — thunderbolt, mansion, cart, yoke

पविप्रासादाङ्कतः सा स्या-च्छास्त्रकृत्पुत्रजन्मदा । शकटस्य युगस्यापि चिह्नतः कृषकाङ्गना ॥ ४८ ॥

By the marks of a thunderbolt and a mansion she gives birth to a son who composes śāstras; by the sign of a cart or a yoke she is a farmer's wife.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 48

Śloka 49 — Palm-marks — weapons and drum

धनुश्चामरखड्गशक्ति-त्रिशूलाङ्कुशसद्गदा । दुन्दुभ्याकाररेखातो नारी राज्ञी मता बुधैः ॥ ४९ ॥

From lines shaped like a bow, a fly-whisk, a sword, a spear, a trident, a goad, a fine mace, or a kettle-drum, the woman is held by the wise to be a queen.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 49

Śloka 51 — A girl to be rejected in marriage — the line to the little finger

रेखा विनिर्गतांगुष्ठ-मूलतश्चेत् कनीयसीम् । अङ्गुलिं याति यस्यास्तां पतिघ्नीं परिवर्जयेत् ॥ ५१ ॥

If a line issuing from the root of the thumb runs to the little finger, she is a slayer of her husband; such a one should be wholly avoided.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 51

Śloka 52 — Palm-lines shaped like inauspicious animals

खरवायसभेकालि-वृक-मार्जार-भोगिनाम् । उष्ट्रवञ्चकयोश्चापि रेखाः क्लेशकराः स्मृताः ॥ ५२ ॥

Lines shaped like a donkey, a crow, a frog, a scorpion, a wolf, a cat, a serpent, a camel or a jackal are held to bring affliction.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 52

Śloka 53 — Fingers — auspicious

स्त्रीणामंगुलयो व्यक्त-पर्वाणो वर्तुलाः कृशाः । लम्बा विरोमा मृदवः सुखसौभाग्यदा मताः ॥ ५३ ॥

Women's fingers with distinct joints, round, slender, long, hairless and soft are held to give happiness and good fortune.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 53

Śloka 54 — Fingers — inauspicious

कुटिला बहुपर्वाणो-ऽपर्वाणो वा कृशास्तथा । रोमान्विता ह्रस्वतरा दुःखदारिद्र्यदाः स्मृताः ॥ ५४ ॥

Crooked fingers, or those with many joints or with none apparent, thin, hairy and very short, are held to give sorrow and poverty.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 54

Śloka 55 — Finger-nails

स्त्रीणां कररुहा रक्ता उन्नताः शाखिनः शुभाः । मलिनाः पीतवर्णाभाः श्वेता अशुभदायिनः ॥ ५५ ॥

Women's finger-nails that are red, raised and branched (ridged) are auspicious; dirty, yellowish or white ones give ill.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 55

Śloka 56 — Back

स्त्रीणां पृष्ठं शुभं ज्ञेयं निगूढास्थि च मांसलम् । शिरोपेतं सरोमं च भुग्नं तन्न शुभप्रदम् ॥ ५६ ॥

A woman's back is to be known as auspicious when the bones are hidden and it is fleshy; when veiny, hairy and bent, it does not give good.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 56

Śloka 57 — Neck — auspicious

रेखात्रयाङ्कितः कण्ठो वृत्तोऽलक्ष्यास्थिकस्तथा । पुष्टः सुकोमलश्चैव स्त्रीणां सौभाग्यदो मतः ॥ ५७ ॥

A neck marked with three lines, round, with bones not visible, well-filled and very soft, is held to give women good fortune.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 57

Śloka 58 — Neck — inauspicious

कण्ठो वैधव्यदः स्थूलो भुग्नो दासीत्वसूचकः । वन्ध्याकरस्तु चिपिटो लघुः सन्तानहीनकृत् ॥ ५८ ॥

A thick neck gives widowhood; a bent one indicates servitude; a flattened one makes her barren; a short one makes her childless.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 58

Śloka 59 — Nape of the neck (kṛkāṭikā)

कृकाटिका तु वामानां मांसला सरलोन्नता । शुभा, शिराला विपुला वक्रा रोमान्विताऽशुभा ॥ ५९ ॥

A woman's nape, when fleshy, straight and raised, is auspicious; when veiny, broad, crooked and hairy, it is inauspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 59

Śloka 60 — Chin

कोमलं मांसलं रक्तं वामायाश्चिबुकं शुभम् । पीनं रेखावृतं भिन्नं द्विधा निन्दितमायतम् ॥ ६० ॥

A woman's chin that is soft, fleshy and ruddy is auspicious; one that is fat, covered with lines, cleft in two, or elongated is censured.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 60

Śloka 61 — Cheeks

वर्तुलौ पृथुलौ प्रांशू कपोलौ शुभदौ स्त्रियाः । कृशौ सरोमौ कठिनौ निम्नावशुभदौ मतौ ॥ ६१ ॥

A woman's cheeks that are round, broad and full give good; those that are thin, hairy, hard or sunken are held to give ill.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 61

Śloka 62 — Face

वदनं तु मृगाक्षीणां वृत्तं पुष्टं सुगन्धयुक् । मसृणं च समं चारु सौभाग्यद्योतकं स्मृतम् ॥ ६२ ॥

The face of doe-eyed women, round, well-filled, sweet-scented, glossy, even and lovely, is held to reveal good fortune.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 62

Śloka 63 — Lower lip — auspicious

पाटलो मसृणो वृत्तो मध्ये रेखाविभाजितः । यस्या मनोज्ञस्त्वधरो भवेत् सा नृपतिप्रिया ॥ ६३ ॥

She whose lower lip is pale-red, glossy, rounded, divided in the middle by a line, and charming, becomes dear to a king.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 63

Śloka 64 — Lower lip — inauspicious

कृशो विरूक्षो दीर्घश्च स्फुटितः श्यामलस्तथा । अधरः पीवरो नार्या वैधव्यार्तिप्रदो मतः ॥ ६४ ॥

A lower lip that is thin, very rough, long, cracked, dark or gross is held to give a woman widowhood and pain.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 64

Śloka 65 — Upper lip

रक्तपद्मसमः स्त्रीणां स्निग्ध ऊर्ध्वरदच्छदः । मध्योन्नतो लोमहीनः सौभाग्य-सुखदायकः ॥ ६५ ॥

A woman's upper lip that is like a red lotus, smooth, raised in the middle and without hair gives good fortune and happiness.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 65

Śloka 66-67 — Teeth (danta)

शुभाः पयोनिभाः स्निग्धा द्वात्रिंशद्रदनाः स्त्रियाः । उपर्यधः समानाश्च किञ्चिदभ्युन्नतास्तथा ॥ ६६ ॥ विकटाः श्यामला लम्बाः पीता युगलपंक्तयः । अधोऽधिकाश्च विरला रदनास्त्वशुभा मताः ॥ ६७ ॥

Auspicious are a woman's teeth that are like milk in hue, glossy, thirty-two in number, even above and below, and slightly raised. But teeth that are misshapen, dark, long, yellow — the two rows [being uneven], more numerous in the lower row, and set wide apart — are held inauspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 66-67

Śloka 68 — Tongue (jihvā / rasanā)

मृदू रक्ता च रसना शुभदाऽमितभोगदा । क्लेशदा विस्तराग्रे तु मध्ये संकुचिता स्त्रियाः ॥ ६८ ॥

A woman's tongue that is soft and red is auspicious and gives boundless enjoyment. But one broad at the tip and contracted in the middle gives distress.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 68

Śloka 69 — Tongue — colours and shapes

सिता सा मृतिदा नीरे श्यामा विग्रहवल्लभा । दारिद्र्यदा तु पृथुला लम्बाऽभक्ष्यप्रिया मता ॥ ६९ ॥

If it is white it gives death in water; if dark, she is fond of strife; if broad, it gives poverty; if long, she is held to be fond of food that ought not to be eaten.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 69

Śloka 70 — Tongue (concluded) and palate (tālu)

प्राकृतैर्मुनिभिः प्रोक्ता विशाला तु प्रमाददा । स्त्रियास्तु मसृणं तालु मृदु पाटलमुत्तमम् ॥ ७० ॥

A very large tongue, so the earlier sages have declared, produces heedlessness. And a woman's palate that is smooth, soft and pale-red is the best.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 70

Śloka 71 — Palate (tālu) — colours

सितं वैधव्यजनकं पीतं सन्न्यासदं मतम् । निःसन्ततिकरं कृष्णं रूक्षं बहुकुटुम्बकृत् ॥ ७१ ॥

A white palate produces widowhood; a yellow one is held to bring renunciation; a black one makes her childless; a dry, rough one makes for a large household.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 71

Śloka 72 — Laughter (hāsya)

अदृष्टरदनं हास्य-मीषद् विकचगण्डकम् । मुनिभिः शुभदं प्रोक्तं तदन्यदशुभं स्मृतम् ॥ ७२ ॥

Laughter in which the teeth are not seen and the cheeks slightly blossom has been declared by the sages to be a giver of auspiciousness; laughter other than that is deemed inauspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 72

Śloka 73 — Nose (nāsā)

समानवर्तुलपुटा क्षुद्ररन्ध्रा तु शोभना । अग्रे तु पृथुला मध्ये निम्ना नासाऽशुभा स्त्रियाः ॥ ७३ ॥

A nose with even, rounded wings and small nostrils is beautiful. But a woman's nose that is broad at the tip and depressed in the middle is inauspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 73

Śloka 74 — Nose — defects

अग्रेऽरुणा कुञ्चिता वा सा वैधव्यविधायिनी । दास्यदा चिपिटा लघ्वी लम्बा वा कलहप्रिया ॥ ७४ ॥

A nose red at the tip, or bent, brings about widowhood. Flat and small, it gives servitude; long, it makes her fond of quarrel.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 74

Śloka 75 — Eyes (nayana) — auspicious form

लोहितान्ते तु नयने स्त्रियाः श्यामलतारके । गोदुग्धवत् सिते स्निग्धे शुभे चासितपक्ष्मणी ॥ ७५ ॥

A woman's eyes that are red at the corners, with dark pupils, white as cow's milk, glossy, and having black lashes are auspicious.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 75

Śloka 76 — Results of the eyes (netra-phala)

उन्नतेऽक्षिणि स्वल्पायुः स्वैरिणी वर्तुले मता । मधुवत् पिङ्गले तस्मिन् सर्वसौभाग्यसंयुता ॥ ७६ ॥

If the eyes are protruding, her life is short; if round, she is held to be wanton; if they are tawny like honey, she is endowed with saubhāgya of every kind.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 76

Śloka 77 — Eyes — one-eyed, dove-eyed, elephant-eyed

वामेन स्वैरिणी काणा वन्ध्या स्याद् दक्षिणेन सा । कपोताक्षी शीलहीना द्विपाक्षी दुःखभागिनी ॥ ७७ ॥

Blind in the left eye, she is wanton; blind in the right, she is barren. Dove-eyed, she is devoid of good conduct; elephant-eyed, she is a sharer of sorrow.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 77

Śloka 78 — Eyelashes (pakṣma)

सूक्ष्मासित-मृदुघनैः पक्ष्मभिः सुखभाग्यभृत् । तनुस्थूल-पिशङ्गैस्तु सा भवेद् दुःखिताऽनिशम् ॥ ७८ ॥

With eyelashes that are fine, black, soft and thick, she bears happiness and good fortune. But with lashes sparse, coarse and tawny, she is unhappy day and night.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 78

Śloka 79 — Eyebrows (bhrū)

वृत्ते चापाकृती स्निग्धे श्यामे चाप्यघने भ्रुवौ । मृदुरोमयुते स्त्रीणां सुखकीर्तिप्रदे मते ॥ ७९ ॥

Eyebrows that are curved, bow-shaped, glossy, dark, not dense, and set with soft hair are held to give women happiness and renown.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 79

Śloka 80 — Ears (karṇa)

श्रुती लम्बे सदावर्ते सौभाग्यसुतदायिके । अशष्कुलीके सशिरे गर्हिते कुटिले तनू ॥ ८० ॥

Ears that are long and always well-whorled are givers of saubhāgya and of sons. Ears lacking a proper conch-hollow, with veins showing, crooked and thin, are censured.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 80

Śloka 81-82 — Forehead (kapāla / bhāla)

विशिरो रोमरहितः कपालोऽर्धेन्दुसन्निभः । स्वाङ्गुलत्रयतोऽन्यूनः स्त्रीणां सौख्यसुतप्रदः ॥ ८१ ॥ लक्षितस्वस्तिकाङ्कोऽपि राज्यदः परिकीर्तितः । रोमाढ्यः प्रोन्नतो दीर्घो भालो दुःखप्रदायकः ॥ ८२ ॥

A forehead free of visible veins, hairless, resembling the half-moon, and not less than three of her own finger-breadths, gives women comfort and sons. One marked with the sign of a svastika is moreover proclaimed a giver of sovereignty. A forehead rich in hair, very high, and long gives sorrow.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 81-82

Śloka 83 — Head (mastaka)

प्रांशुर्गजेन्द्रकुम्भाभो वर्तुलो मस्तकः शुभः । विशालः कुटिलो लम्बो दुर्भाग्यक्लेशदः स्त्रियाः ॥ ८३ ॥

A head that is lofty, resembling the frontal globes of a lordly elephant, and round, is auspicious. Broad, crooked and elongated, it gives a woman misfortune and distress.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 83

Śloka 84 — Hair (keśa)

केशाः कृष्णाश्च मसृणा, लम्बाः सूक्ष्मास्तु सत्तमाः । पिङ्गाः कठोरा रूक्षाश्चाघना ह्रस्वा न शोभनाः ॥ ८४ ॥

Hair that is black, smooth, long and fine is the very best. Tawny, stiff, dry, thin-set and short hair is not good.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 84

Śloka 85 — Hair colour by complexion; extension of the whole chapter to men

गौराङ्ग्याः पिङ्गलाः श्यामा वामायाः शुभदाः स्मृताः । एवमेव पूरुषाणा-मङ्गलक्षणमीरयेत् ॥ ८५ ॥

For a woman of fair limbs, hair that is tawny or dark is declared to be a giver of auspiciousness. In exactly this same manner one should declare the marks of the bodily parts of men.

BPHS Adhyāya 81, śloka 85