Shloka 4

The Lord’s Supervision of Embodiment: Fetal Development, Womb-Suffering, and the Jīva’s Prayer (Garbha-stuti) — and the Trap of Māyā

Devanagari script

चतुर्भिर्धातव: सप्त पञ्चभि: क्षुत्तृडुद्भव: । षड्‌भिर्जरायुणा वीत: कुक्षौ भ्राम्यति दक्षिणे ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

caturbhir dhātavaḥ sapta pañcabhiḥ kṣut-tṛḍ-udbhavaḥ ṣaḍbhir jarāyuṇā vītaḥ kukṣau bhrāmyati dakṣiṇe

Translation

Within four months, the seven bodily constituents—chyle, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, and semen—come into being. By five months, hunger and thirst are felt. By six months, the fetus, enclosed by the amnion, begins to move on the right side of the abdomen.

Synonyms

• caturbhiḥ: within four (months)
• caturbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); time-instrument ‘in four (months)’ (elliptic)

• dhātavaḥ: the bodily constituents (dhātus)
• dhātavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्याविशेषण), indeclinable-like form; qualifies dhātavaḥ

• pañcabhiḥ: within five (months)
• pañcabhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); time-instrument ‘in five (months)’ (elliptic)

• kṣut-tṛṭ-udbhavaḥ: the arising of hunger and thirst
• kṣut-tṛṭ-udbhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣut (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + udbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); dvandva of kṣut+tṛṭ as prior member; overall ‘arising of hunger and thirst’

• ṣaḍbhiḥ: within six (months)
• ṣaḍbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); time-instrument ‘in six (months)’ (elliptic)

• jarāyuṇā: by/with the placenta (membrane)
• jarāyuṇā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jarāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vītaḥ: enveloped/covered
• vītaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vī (वी, धातु) + ta (क्त, कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कर्मणि), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with implied jantuḥ

• kukṣau: in the womb
• kukṣau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kukṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhrāmyati: moves about/wanders
• bhrāmyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhram (भ्रम्, धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• dakṣiṇe: on the right side
• dakṣiṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) used adverbially, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Purport

When the body of the child is completely formed at the end of six months, the child, if he is male, begins to move on the right side, and if female, she tries to move on the left side.

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the soul’s condition in the womb (Canto 3)?

In 3.31.4, Śukadeva explains that the jīva becomes enclosed by womb coverings and, influenced by bodily constituents and sense-objects, experiences embodied conditions like hunger and thirst while confined in the abdomen.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe embryonic development to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

He is teaching detachment from bodily identification by showing how conditioned life begins in confinement and suffering, emphasizing the need to seek liberation through devotion to the Lord.

What is a practical modern-life takeaway from Bhagavatam 3.31.4?

Remembering that bodily urges and discomforts arise from material conditioning helps one reduce over-identification with the body and prioritize sādhana—hearing, chanting, and living with spiritual purpose.