Shloka 2
Womb-Suffering and the Path to Liberation
Dialogue of Wisdom, Meditation, and Discernment
अधोमुखस्तु गर्भस्थो मोहजालेन बंधितः । आधिव्याधिसमाक्रांतो हाहाभूतो विचेतनः
adhomukhastu garbhastho mohajālena baṃdhitaḥ | ādhivyādhisamākrāṃto hāhābhūto vicetanaḥ
La face tournée vers le bas dans le sein, l’embryon est lié par un filet d’illusion. Accablé d’angoisse mentale et de maladie du corps, il devient sans recours—criant «hélas, hélas !»—et tombe dans l’inconscience.
Not specified in input (contextual narrator within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa, Adhyāya 8)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अधोमुखस्+तु→अधोमुखस्तु; गर्भस्थः (गर्भ+स्थ); मोहजालेन (मोह+जाल+ेन); बंधितः=बन्धितः; समाक्रांतो=समाक्रान्तः; हाहाभूतो=हाहाभूतः
FAQs
It depicts the embodied condition beginning in the womb: the jīva is constrained by delusion (moha) and experiences both mental distress (ādhi) and physical suffering (vyādhi).
It suggests a binding, enveloping ignorance that obscures clarity and freedom, making the being feel trapped and helpless even before birth.
The verse underscores the pervasive nature of saṃsāric suffering and encourages seeking liberation through spiritual knowledge and disciplined practice rather than remaining bound by delusion.