In the revered Garuḍa Purāṇa, the ancient sages spoke of the mysterious signs inscribed by destiny upon the human body, revealing the secrets of fortune, longevity, and virtue. It is said that among men, those whose urine passes without sound are destined for kingship, while those whose stream is noisy are not. If a man’s belly resembles that of a serpent, poverty shadows his life, and the lines etched upon his body silently determine the span of his days. A man who is truly happy, blessed with sons, enjoys a life of sixty years. But if a single unbroken line stretches all the way to the end of his ear, he is fated to live a full hundred years. Two such lines foretell a lifespan of seventy years, while three lines predict sixty years; fewer lines, alas, limit life to forty years. Should a trident or spear appear upon the forehead, it too carries significance. The line of life, so the wise declare, lies between the index and middle fingers. From the thumb flows the line of knowledge, and the line of life, beginning on the little finger, enters there. The palm’s lines unveil the length of one’s days; if this line, resting on the little finger, reaches the middle finger, it holds its own meaning. Thus ends the sacred teaching on the signs of the body, as preserved in the science of astrology. Turning now to the auspicious marks of women, the Purāṇa describes her whose hair is curly, whose face is round and radiant like the rising sun, whose skin gleams with a golden hue, and whose hands are red as lotus petals. The maiden with wavy hair and round, moon-like eyes shines with beauty, her face luminous as the full moon. Yet, many lines on the palm portend trouble, while few lines suggest a lack of wealth. In her actions, the ideal woman is a wise counselor; in virtue, she is chaste; in deeds, she is skilled. If her palm bears the marks of an elephant goad, an earring, or a discus, these are signs of greatness. She whose sides and breasts are covered with hair, or whose palm lines form the shape of a rampart and gateway, possesses her own significance. A woman whose hairline is high, tawny, and unbroken, whose ring finger and thumb do not touch the ground, and by whose mere walking the earth seems to tremble, is marked by destiny. Good fortune is seen in the moistness of a woman’s eyes, and the enjoyment of food in the moistness of her teeth. Her feet are most auspicious when her nails are glossy and reddish, her soles elevated and smooth, free from sweat, soft, and gentle to the touch. Her private parts are excellent when broad and shaped like the leaf of a sacred fig tree; her abdomen and breasts are free from hair, and she bears three hairless folds. Thus concludes the sacred discourse on the marks of women’s bodies, as set forth in the science of physiognomy. Finally, as spoken by Samudra, the auspicious marks of men and women are revealed. Their feet do not sweat, their soles are soft and resemble the inner whorl of a lotus. Their ankles are prominent like a tortoise’s shell, their heels concealed and well-shaped, as befits a king. Their feet are dry, their nails pale, their toes spaced apart and not crowded together. Their shanks are uneven, their bones straight and long like bamboo, and their calves are shaped like a conch or wedge. Their thighs, covered with soft hair, are even and shine like those of an elephant. Yet, men whose thighs are bare as a jackal’s, with only a hair or two at the root, are considered unfortunate and are censured. A man with fleshless knees enjoys little fortune and brings little pleasure to a woman. Those with large thighs are blessed with long life, and it is said that a man with a small organ is destined for wealth. Thus, the ancient sages have revealed the secret signs upon the body, by which destiny’s hand may be discerned, guiding the wise to knowledge of fortune, virtue, and the span of human life.