Shloka 23

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

शुक्रसोणितयो साम्ये गर्भाः षण्डत्वमाप्नुयुः / अहोरात्रेण कलिलं बुद्वदं पञ्चभिदिनैः

Transliteration

śukrasoṇitayo sāmye garbhāḥ ṣaṇḍatvamāpnuyuḥ / ahorātreṇa kalilaṃ budvadaṃ pañcabhidinaiḥ

Translation

Wenn männlicher Same und weibliches Blut dem Maße nach gleich sind, erlangt der Embryo ein neutrales Geschlecht (ein Zwischenzustand). Binnen eines Tages und einer Nacht wird er zur gallertartigen Masse, kalila genannt, und binnen fünf Tagen wird er blasenartig, budbuda.

Word by Word

• शुक्रसोणितयोः: of semen and blood
• शुक्रसोणितयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शोणित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (collective dvandva)

• साम्ये: in equality
• साम्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• गर्भाः: embryos
• गर्भाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• षण्डत्वम्: impotence/androgyny (state of being ṣaṇḍa)
• षण्डत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्डत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आप्नुयुः: would attain
• आप्नुयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अहोरात्रेण: by a day and night (within one day-night)
• अहोरात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (day+night)

• कलिलम्: a thickened mass (kalila stage)
• कलिलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• बुद्बुदम्: a bubble-like form (budbuda stage)
• बुद्बुदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्बुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• पञ्चभिः: by five
• पञ्चभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्याविशेषण) त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• दिनैः: days
• दिनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embryo formation follows determinate stages; sex characteristics are linked to relative predominance/equilibrium of reproductive factors.

Vedantic Theme: Prakriti’s orderly evolution (pariṇāma) under the witnessing Self; the body as an effect (kārya) arising from causes (kāraṇa).

Application: Cultivate humility and detachment by contemplating bodily origination; use the staged model for didactic reflection on impermanence and embodied life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: bodily-inner-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32 (garbha-utpatti/śarīra-nirmāṇa context); Garuda Purana 2.31–2.33 (adjacent teachings on embodiment and consequences of karma)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What does this Garuda Purana verse say about sex determination?

It states that when śukra (semen) and śoṇita (uterine blood) are equal, the fetus is said to attain ṣaṇḍatva—a neutral/androgynous condition—indicating sex is described as arising from the proportion of generative factors.

How does this verse describe early fetal development (kalila and budbuda)?

It outlines a sequence: within one day-night the embryo becomes kalila (a gelatinous mass), and by five days it becomes budbuda (bubble-like), presenting staged formation of the body.

Practical application of this teaching today?

It encourages reverence for embodied life by viewing conception and development as an ordered process; ethically, it supports mindful conduct regarding sexuality, pregnancy, and care for the developing child.