Shloka 50

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

कटिपृष्ठं गुदञ्चापि पञ्चमे ऽहनि जायते / षष्ठे ऊरू च विज्ञेये सप्तमे गुल्फसम्भवः

Transliteration

kaṭipṛṣṭhaṃ gudañcāpi pañcame 'hani jāyate / ṣaṣṭhe ūrū ca vijñeye saptame gulphasambhavaḥ

Translation

في اليوم الخامس تتكوَّن الخصر والظهر، وكذلك الشرج. وفي اليوم السادس تُفهَم نشأة الفخذين؛ وفي اليوم السابع تتكوَّن الكاحلان.

Word by Word

• kaṭi-pṛṣṭham: back/loins region
• kaṭi-pṛṣṭham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kaṭyāḥ pṛṣṭham)

• gudam: anus
• gudam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि)

• pañcame: on the fifth
• pañcame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ordinal adjective with 'ahani'

• ahani: day
• ahani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• jāyate: is formed/arises
• jāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्), Present, Ātmanepada; 3rd Person, Singular

• ṣaṣṭhe: on the sixth
• ṣaṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ordinal adjective (elliptic 'ahani')

• ūrū: (two) thighs
• ūrū: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• vijñeye: to be known/understood
• vijñeye: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-jñā (धातु) + ya (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/Potential passive participle (भाव्य/कर्तव्यताप्रत्यय - यत्/अनीयर्); Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; used elliptically with 'ahani' = 'on the day to be known/understood'

• saptame: on the seventh
• saptame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ordinal adjective (elliptic 'ahani')

• gulpha-sambhavaḥ: origin/formation of the ankle
• gulpha-sambhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gulpha (प्रातिपदिक) + sambhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (gulphasya sambhavaḥ)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Day 5–7 after death

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: No part of embodiment is excluded; the rite addresses the whole being, including lower bodily functions.

Vedantic Theme: Acceptance of embodied condition (deha-dharma) within karma; ritual order as a means to reduce post-mortem suffering.

Application: Perform fifth–seventh day rites without aversion; maintain śauca while fulfilling obligations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.48–52 (continuum)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of fetal development descriptions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a day-by-day account of bodily formation, supporting the Purana’s broader teaching that embodiment is a structured karmic process, not random, and that the body is a temporary vessel relevant to rites and dharma.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s afterlife teachings?

By detailing how the physical body forms in stages, the text frames human birth as part of the soul’s karmic journey—later contrasted with what happens to the jiva after death in the Preta Kanda narrative.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages humility and ethical living: the body is carefully formed yet impermanent, so one should prioritize dharma, disciplined conduct, and (where relevant) respectful observance of samskara and death-rite traditions.