Shloka 42
An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body
Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā
श्रोत्रं त्वक् चक्षुषी जिह्वा नासा बुद्धीन्द्रियाणि च / पाणी पादौ गुदं प्राक् च गुह्यं कर्मेन्द्रियाणि च
śrotraṃ tvak cakṣuṣī jihvā nāsā buddhīndriyāṇi ca / pāṇī pādau gudaṃ prāk ca guhyaṃ karmendriyāṇi ca
ചെവി, ത്വക്ക്, രണ്ടു കണ്ണുകൾ, നാവ്, മൂക്ക്—ഇവ ജ്ഞാനേന്ദ്രിയങ്ങൾ; കൈകൾ, കാലുകൾ, ഗുദം, മൂത്രദ്വാരം (അഗ്രദ്വാരം), ഗുഹ്യേന്ദ്രിയം—ഇവ കർമേന്ദ്രിയങ്ങൾ।
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Classification of sense organs (ear, skin, eyes, tongue, nose) and action organs (hands, feet, anus, urinary outlet, genitals) as a framework for self-knowledge and restraint.
Vedantic Theme: Indriya-viveka: distinguishing instruments of experience from the experiencer; supports disidentification and mastery.
Application: Use the list for daily mindfulness: track which indriya is pulling attention; practice pratyāhāra and ethical use of action organs (work, movement, sexuality, elimination hygiene).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.38-41 (element/quality mapping leading into indriyas)
FAQs
This verse lists the organs of perception and action, showing how embodied experience and karma arise through specific faculties—what one perceives and what one does become the basis of moral consequence.
By defining the sense-and-action apparatus of embodiment, the text prepares the framework for how karmic impressions formed through these faculties shape post-death experience described in the Preta Kanda.
Practice restraint and purity in perception and action—guard what you take in through the senses and what you do through the organs of action, since these are the channels through which karmic habits are formed.