Treatise on Physiognomy

सं. ८

Salutations to the illustrious Ganesha. Salutations to the illustrious Lord who removes obstacles. I bow to Vasudeva a name for Krishna/Vishnu, the Teacher of the World, who is self-effulgent, easily attained, indivisible, truthful, faultless, and eternal ...? those who laugh and those who know the Three Vedas original: "cayyā" likely referring to the Trayi or the triple Veda. 1. Do

2. [The signs grant] desired happiness as well. For she who has a tilaka Tilaka: a sacred mark or natural auspicious spot consistently appearing upon her forehead, though she may be frequently burdened by illness original: "vahu-rugṇā," meaning often sick, she attains sovereignty over her own nature and life. A triple-fold Trivali: three distinct horizontal lines or creases on the brow upon the forehead of a woman whose body is hairless, pure, and free from the seven [defects], grants long life, power, and wealth. 2.

But she who has red lines appearing upon a pale forehead with short breaks—she is as poison, intoxicating wine, and death literally "poison" is repeated for emphasis to her son, her brother-in-law, and her husband. 3.

A swastika shape Svastika: a solar symbol representing well-being and auspiciousness on the forehead, [but with certain marks on] the belly—she hinders the lineage of her brother-in-law and her brother, falling into madness original: "unmā," likely a truncated form of unmāda or madness/intoxication. Such a girl should be avoided. 4.

Thus ends the signs of the forehead Lalata-lakshana: the branch of physiognomy concerned with interpreting the lines and marks of the brow.

The Samudraka The sage Samudra or the foundational text of physiognomy speaks of that which is the lamp of wealth...