Shloka 61

Devanagari script

नाडी वाप्यायनी नाम नाभ्यां तत्र निबध्यते / स्त्रीणां तथान्त्रसुषिरे स निबद्धः प्रजायते

Transliteration

nāḍī vāpyāyanī nāma nābhyāṃ tatra nibadhyate / strīṇāṃ tathāntrasuṣire sa nibaddhaḥ prajāyate

Translation

There is a channel (nāḍī) called Vāpyāyanī, which is fastened there at the navel. In women likewise, it is bound within the hollow of the intestines, and from that connection the embryo comes into being.

Word by Word

• नाडी: a tube/duct
• नाडी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाडी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• वा: or/also
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle: or/also)

• अप्यायनी: (called) Āpyāyanī
• अप्यायनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्यायनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; नामविशेष (Feminine, Nominative, Singular; proper name)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (Apposition marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नामनिर्देशक-अव्यय (indeclinable: ‘by name’)

• नाभ्याम्: by/with the two navels (navel-region)
• नाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), द्विवचन (Feminine, Instrumental, Dual)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: there)

• निबध्यते: is bound/fastened
• निबध्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Present, 3rd sg, Atmanepada; passive sense: is bound)

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Feminine, Genitive, Plural)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• अन्त्रसुषिरे: in the intestinal cavity
• अन्त्रसुषिरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्र + सुषिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘अन्त्रस्य सुषिरे’ (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• सः: it/he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Masculine, Nominative, Singular; pronoun)

• निबद्धः: bound/attached
• निबद्धः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• प्रजायते: is produced/is born
• प्रजायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Present indicative, 3rd person, Singular, Atmanepada)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Life is mediated through channels and connections; embodiment arises through specific causal linkages, not by chance.

Vedantic Theme: Kārya-kāraṇa (cause-effect) within prakṛti; the self witnesses the body’s arising through instruments (nāḍīs).

Application: Encourage reverence for the body’s complexity; support careful prenatal medical attention; use the idea of ‘connection’ to reflect on dependence and gratitude.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: internal bodily locus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.62 (nourishment transfer presupposes a connecting pathway)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Women (strī)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Vāpyāyanī nāḍī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Vāpyāyanī as a key subtle/physiological connection associated with the navel and generation of the embryo, indicating how the Purana links nāḍī-structures to embodiment.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey discussed in the Garuda Purana?

By describing the mechanism of embodiment (how a being takes birth), the text provides the complementary foundation to after-death discussions—showing the entry into a body that later becomes the basis for preta/post-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages reverence for life and responsible conduct (dharma) by reminding that embodiment follows precise cosmic order—supporting ethical living and mindful observance of samskāras and family duties.