Shloka 29
An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body
Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā
चिकित्सा जायते तस्य गर्भवासपरिक्षये / नारी वाथ नरो वाथ नपुंस्त्वं वाभिजायते
cikitsā jāyate tasya garbhavāsaparikṣaye / nārī vātha naro vātha napuṃstvaṃ vābhijāyate
When that period of dwelling in the womb comes to its end, in him arises the impulse toward remedy and self-preservation; and then he is born—either as a woman, or as a man, or as one of indeterminate sex.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)
Concept: At the end of gestation, the impulse for self-preservation arises and the jīva takes a specific embodied form, including sex/sex-variation, as part of karmic unfolding.
Vedantic Theme: Embodiment as upādhi-determined; individuality expresses through guṇa/karma conditions while the Self remains unchanged.
Application: Encourage non-discrimination and compassion toward all bodies/sexes; recognize embodiment as conditioned and focus on ethical agency rather than identity fixation.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: liminal passage (birth canal implied)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.28–32 (continuous account of gestation, subtle-body features, and elemental constitution)
FAQs
This verse marks garbha-vāsa as a defined phase that ends in birth, framing embodiment as a karmically governed transition from subtle existence to physical life.
Within the Preta Kanda’s rebirth discussion, it indicates that after prior states and entering womb-dwelling, the being reaches completion of that term and emerges into a new body with a determined birth category (female, male, or napuṃsaka).
It encourages humility and ethical living by reminding that embodiment and circumstances are transient outcomes of prior causes, motivating dharmic conduct and compassion toward all bodies and identities.