Shloka 42
The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body
चतुरशीतिलक्षाणि निर्मिता योनयः पुरा / उद्भिज्जाः स्वेदजाश्चैव अण्डजाश्च जरायुजाः
caturaśītilakṣāṇi nirmitā yonayaḥ purā / udbhijjāḥ svedajāścaiva aṇḍajāśca jarāyujāḥ
ਪੁਰਾਤਨ ਸਮੇਂ ਚੌਰਾਸੀ ਲੱਖ ਯੋਨੀਆਂ ਬਣਾਈਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ—ਉਦਭਿਜ, ਸਵੇਦਜ, ਅੰਡਜ ਅਤੇ ਜਰਾਯੁਜ।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Jīvas traverse innumerable yonis; embodied life manifests through four generative modes (udbhijja, svedaja, aṇḍaja, jarāyuja).
Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra’s vastness; embodiment as a field for karma to fructify; non-exclusivity of the jīva’s forms.
Application: Cultivate humility and compassion toward all life-forms; remember rarity of human birth and use it for dharma/jñāna/bhakti.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated motifs of 84-lakṣa yonis and saṃsāra-cakra in instructional passages
FAQs
It frames samsara as an immense range of embodied existences, reminding the listener that the soul can move through many forms; therefore one should pursue dharma and liberation rather than remain bound to repeated birth.
By listing the four modes of birth, it implies that the jiva’s rebirth can occur across plant, micro-organic/moisture-born, egg-born, and womb-born embodiments according to karma, showing the breadth of transmigration described in the Purana.
Cultivate ethical conduct and compassion toward all life forms—recognizing continuity of life across many births—and prioritize actions that reduce karmic bondage (truthfulness, non-harm, self-restraint, and devotion).