Let us recount the teachings as they are revealed in the sacred Garuḍa Purāṇa, where the marks upon the bodies of women and men are described with reverence and detail, illuminating the subtle science of physiognomy. First, the marks of women are spoken. There is a woman whose sides and breasts are covered with hair, and whose palm lines form the shape of a rampart and gateway, signifying special qualities. Her hairline is raised, tawny, and unbroken, a mark of distinction upon her brow. When she places her hand upon the ground, her ring finger and thumb do not touch, a subtle sign noticed by the wise. So powerful is her presence that even as she simply walks, the earth itself trembles beneath her steps. From the moistness of a woman’s eyes arises good fortune, while the moistness of her teeth is an indication of her enjoyment of food. The feet of an auspicious woman are adorned with glossy, reddish nails; her feet are elevated and smooth, praised for their beauty. Her feet do not sweat, their soles are soft, and they are gentle to the touch, qualities much admired. Her private parts are broad and excellent, resembling the leaf of the sacred fig tree. Her abdomen and breasts are free from hair, and she possesses three hairless folds, each a mark of auspiciousness. Thus concludes the chapter named ‘The Description of Women’s Marks,’ a part of the teachings on conduct and the science of physiognomy in the great Purāṇa of Śrī Garuḍa. Now, as spoken by Samudra, the auspicious marks of both men and women are declared. Those who are truly fortunate have feet that do not sweat, whose soles are soft and resemble the delicate interior of a lotus. Their ankles are raised like those of a tortoise, their heels concealed and well-formed, as is remembered for a king. Their feet are dry, their nails pale, their toes sparse and not pressed together. Their shanks are uneven, the bones like bamboo, and their calves shaped like a conch or wedge. The thighs are covered with soft hair, even and shining like those of an elephant. Yet, if the thighs are hairless like a jackal’s, with only one or two hairs at the root, it is considered inauspicious; men lacking these marks from the beginning are thought unfortunate and are censured. A person with fleshless knees has little fortune, and a woman’s pleasure is diminished with such a one. Those with large thighs are said to have long life, while a man with a small organ is believed to be wealthy. If the penis is short, he will be without sons; if it is small but has a prominent vein, happiness is his. Yet, if it is hidden in the scrotum, long, or bent, he will be without wealth. A man with only one testicle is weak, and if his penis is uneven, he brings little pleasure to women. If the testicles are raised and rough like stones, he is a lord and enjoys long life. Men whose urine makes sound or is silent are said to be poor, while those whose urine flows to the right or turns are considered kings. Among women, those whose urine flows in a single, smooth, and rising stream are considered fortunate, while those whose urine is dry, hissing, or parched are described as unfortunate. The nature of children, too, is spoken of: sons are born when semen smells like fish, and daughters when the semen is thin. If the semen smells alkaline, the child will be poor; if it is long-lived, the woman is quick in intercourse. A man with fleshy buttocks is happy, and one whose buttocks are like a lion’s is considered a king. Those with snake-like bellies, or with flat or pot-like abdomens, are poor. Those whose waists are level enjoy many pleasures, but those with sunken waists are deprived of wealth. One with a fish-shaped belly is blessed with much wealth, and one with a prominent navel is happy. If the navel is situated in the middle of the abdomen, it causes pain like a spear. Those who sit with their sides extended live long and become lords of wealth. One who offers a single oblation attains a hundred years of life; one who offers two is remembered for enjoying prosperity. Kings who approach the forbidden, act crookedly, and have fleshy sides are deemed transgressors, while those with inverted sides become servants of others, deprived of both wealth and happiness. Thus, the marks upon the body, as described in the ancient wisdom, reveal the destinies and qualities of men and women, guiding the wise in their understanding of fortune and character.