Shloka 27

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

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

Devanagari script

कर्णौ च नासिके वक्षो जायेरन् मासि पञ्चमे / कण्ठरन्ध्रोदरं षष्ठे गुह्यादिर्मासि सप्तमे

Transliteration

karṇau ca nāsike vakṣo jāyeran māsi pañcame / kaṇṭharandhrodaraṃ ṣaṣṭhe guhyādirmāsi saptame

Translation

Im fünften Monat entstehen Ohren, Nasenöffnungen und Brust. Im sechsten Monat entwickeln sich die Öffnung der Kehle und der Bauch; und im siebten Monat erscheinen die Geschlechtsorgane und die übrigen Teile.

Word by Word

• कर्णौ: the two ears
• कर्णौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नासिके: the two nostrils
• नासिके: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• वक्षः: chest
• वक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• जायेरन्: would arise/form
• जायेरन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• मासि: in the month
• मासि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• पञ्चमे: in the fifth
• पञ्चमे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• कण्ठरन्ध्रोदरम्: throat-opening and abdomen (as a combined set)
• कण्ठरन्ध्रोदरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + रन्ध्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (throat-opening and abdomen as a set)

• षष्ठे: in the sixth (month)
• षष्ठे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• गुह्यादिः: the genitals etc. (beginning with the genitals)
• गुह्यादिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘आदि’ अन्त-तत्पुरुषः (beginning with the genitals)

• मासि: in the month
• मासि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• सप्तमे: in the seventh (month)
• सप्तमे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Organogenesis proceeds month-wise: ears/nose/chest (5th), throat opening/abdomen (6th), genitals and remaining parts (7th).

Vedantic Theme: Indriyas and organs are instruments (karaṇa) of experience; the Self is the user (bhoktā) yet ultimately beyond agency in liberation teaching contexts.

Application: Encourage ethical use of senses and speech by remembering their constructed nature; cultivate restraint and responsibility in embodied life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: bodily-inner-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.23–27 (completion of fetal formation sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse presents a month-by-month account of organ formation, linking embodied life to the Purana’s broader teaching that birth and bodily experience arise within the framework of karma and the soul’s journey.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

By detailing how specific organs arise in successive months, it shows the soul’s progressive entanglement with a physical body—an essential stage before later discussions of death, preta-state, and post-death rites in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages reverence for life in the womb, ethical living mindful of karmic consequences, and responsible observance of family duties (dharma) that support life and wellbeing.