Shloka 77

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

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

Devanagari script

गर्भवासे महद्दुः खं जायमानस्य योनिजम् / जातस्य बालभावे ऽपि वृद्धत्वे दुःखमेव च

Transliteration

garbhavāse mahadduḥ khaṃ jāyamānasya yonijam / jātasya bālabhāve 'pi vṛddhatve duḥkhameva ca

Translation

In the confinement of the womb there is great suffering; at the time of birth the pain born of the womb is severe. After birth, even in childhood there is suffering, and in old age too there is nothing but suffering.

Word by Word

• गर्भवासे: in the dwelling in the womb
• गर्भवासे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + वास (√वस् (धातु) घञ्/वास-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (गर्भे वासः) — अधिकरण

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (दुःखम्)

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय-रूपे (elliptic ‘(there is) suffering’)

• जायमानस्य: of one being born
• जायमानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √जन् (धातु) शानच् (वर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; वर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle) — सम्बन्ध (of the one being born)

• योनिजम्: born from the womb (womb-born)
• योनिजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (√जन् (धातु) क-प्रत्यय/ज-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः पञ्चमी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (योनितः/योनौ जातम्) — विशेषण (दुःखम्)

• जातस्य: of the one who is born
• जातस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √जन् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle: ‘born’) — सम्बन्ध

• बालभावे: in childhood
• बालभावे: Adhikaraṇa (State/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बालस्य भावः) — अधिकरण

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/also; concessive)

• वृद्धत्वे: in old age
• वृद्धत्वे: Adhikaraṇa (State/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धत्व (वृद्ध + त्व-प्रत्यय, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय-रूपे

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodiment itself is pervaded by suffering across all stages; thus liberation is the true remedy.

Vedantic Theme: Duḥkha-doṣa-darśana in saṃsāra; identification with body as bondage; impetus toward mokṣa through viveka and bhakti/jñāna.

Application: Practice daily reflection on impermanence and bodily vulnerability; invest in inner disciplines (japa, meditation, ethical living) rather than body-centered pride.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: embodied-existence

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: garbha-duḥkha and saṃsāra descriptions used to generate vairāgya; related passages on birth/death cycle

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of describing womb-to-old-age suffering in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes the pervasive nature of duḥkha across the human life-cycle, encouraging vairāgya (detachment) and urgency for dharma and liberation-oriented practice.

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

By highlighting suffering even before and after birth, it frames embodied existence as inherently burdensome, supporting the text’s broader teaching that the soul should seek righteous living and freedom from repeated birth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate compassion for embodied beings, reduce harmful cravings, and prioritize dharma, self-discipline, and spiritual practices that lessen attachment to temporary bodily stages.