In times of injustice, calamity, or battle, when a person finds themselves caught in circumstances where restraint is impossible and the heart is gripped by turmoil, one must respond with indifference—just as it was remembered regarding the brothers of old and as Hiḍimbā once did. In such moments, the world presents wondrous and fearsome sights: clouds massing in the sky, darkness descending, torrents of rain, the flicker and roar of fire, the steadfastness of mountains, the encampment of armies, and the fluttering banners of those who march to war. Amidst these, one witnesses the fallen—those cut, torn, broken, or mingled together in the chaos of conflict. To instill fear in the hearts of enemies, magic and illusion are to be skillfully employed. At this juncture, Agni spoke, addressing the king: “The wisdom that Rāma has spoken applies equally to both men and women. The characteristics described by Samudra and previously recounted by Garga are to be understood by all.” Then Samudra began to describe the marks and qualities of men, and the auspicious and inauspicious traits of women. He spoke of those who possess one extra quality, two white features, and three deep characteristics. There are those who are threefold, with three parts hanging, and those who are spread by three; three lines, three bends, and those who know the three divisions of time, O virtuous one. A man is said to be well-marked and broad in three places; there are four marks, and four ways in which one is equal. There are those with four thighs and four teeth, seven kinds of oil, nine pure features, ten lotus-like qualities, ten formations, and a circumference as grand as a banyan tree. Some have six raised features, eight portions, and again seven oils, nine pure, ten lotuses, ten formations, and a circumference like the banyan’s expanse. Fourteen equal pairs and sixteen praised eyes are noted. Such a person is endowed with righteousness, wealth, and desire, with righteousness itself being an extra virtue. The eyes, devoid of stars, shine white; the teeth are white; the ears and navel are deep; and among these, one quality stands out, with three remembered. Among the virtues are non-envy, compassion, patience, auspicious conduct, purity, aspiration, humility, effortlessness, and courage. Threefold features, three hanging parts—the testicles and arms—are observed, as are the regions, birth, classes, and the marks of brilliance, fame, and fortune. There are those who spread in three ways, have three lines, and possess three strengths in the belly; listen to the man who is threefold bent. He who bows to the deities, the twice-born, and teachers, and who knows the proper times for righteousness, wealth, and pleasure, is called one who knows the three times. He marks his chest, forehead, and face with three lines; his hands and feet are adorned with banners, parasols, and similar auspicious items. The fingers, heart, back, and waist are each fourfold; the height is measured at ninety-six fingers and four spans. Four tusks, shining like the moon, and four black ones are praised; the pupils, eyebrows, beard, and hair are likewise black. Sweat appears on the nose and face, a foul odor in the armpits; the organ and neck are short, as are the calves, according to the Veda. The joints of the fingers are fine, and the nails, hair, teeth, and skin are twice-born; the jaws, eyes, and forehead, as well as the nose, are long, and the space between the breasts is noted. The chest, armpits, mouth, and nose are prominent; the face is rounded; the skin, hair, and teeth are smooth, as are the hair, gaze, nails, and speech. The knees and thighs are like two bamboo stalks at the back; the eyes, nostrils, ears, genitals, and anus are pure at their openings. The tongue, lips, palate, eyes, hands, feet, nails, tip of the penis, and mouth are praised as ten lotus-like features in embodied beings. The hands and feet are pleasant; the neck, ears, heart, head, forehead, abdomen, and back are the ten honored parts. When a man extends his arms, the space between the tips of his middle fingers equals his height, forming a circular shape like a banyan tree. The feet, ankles, hips, sides, groins, testicles, breasts, ears, lips, thighs, calves, hands, arms, and eyes—these are the fourteen pairs generally found in a man. Whoever sees fourteen sciences, each with two syllables, is called one with sixteen syllables. A rough, scattered body—inauspicious, devoid of flesh, with a foul and contrary odor—is praised when seen with a clear gaze. His speech is sweet, his gait resembles a proud elephant, his hair grows from a single pore, and he offers protection in times of fear, again and again. Samudra then described the auspicious woman: She has beautiful limbs and walks with the grace of a proud elephant, her hips are heavy, and her eyes are like those of a proud pigeon. She has beautiful hair, slender limbs, fine body hair, and is charming. Her feet touch the ground evenly, and her breasts are close together. Her navel turns to the right, her genitals are shaped like the leaf of a fig tree, her ankles are hidden, and her navel is at the midpoint between her thumb and middle finger. A woman with a protruding belly, hanging breasts, or rough, leathery skin is not attractive; nor is one named after animals, trees, or rivers, or one who is always fond of quarrels. She should not be greedy or speak harshly; she is auspicious, worshipped by gods and others. She should not have swollen cheeks or lips like the maghūka flower, nor a large head, nor be excessively hairy. She should not have joined or crooked eyebrows. She values her husband as her very life and is dear to him; even if she lacks marks of fortune, she is to be considered fortunate—for where there is good form, virtues are present. Agni then spoke of the objects of royalty and auspiciousness: The best fly-whisk has a golden handle; a royal umbrella is praised when crafted with the feathers of the swan, peacock, or parrot. However, it should not be made from the feathers of the crane, nor from mixed feathers. The umbrella for a Brahmin should be four-sided, and for a king, round and white. The staff of the umbrella may have three, four, five, six, seven, or eight joints. The auspicious seat is made from milky trees and should be fifty finger-breadths high, with a width of three hand-spans, adorned with gold and other precious materials. The three materials for a bow are iron, horn, and wood, O best of the twice-born. The bowstring is made from bamboo, sinew, or hide, and the best wooden bow should measure four hand-spans. Thus, the marks of men and women, the signs of fortune and virtue, the emblems of royalty, and the tools of power are all described, guiding the wise in discerning what is auspicious and what is not in this world.