Shloka 129
Pitṛmātṛtīrtha Greatness & the Discourse on Embodiment: Karma, Birth, Impurity, and Dispassion
जायते योनिकीटेषु मृतः कर्मवशात्पुनः । देहभेदेन यः पश्येद्वियोगं कर्मसंक्षयात्
jāyate yonikīṭeṣu mṛtaḥ karmavaśātpunaḥ | dehabhedena yaḥ paśyedviyogaṃ karmasaṃkṣayāt
कर्मवशात् मृतः पुनरपि योनिजेषु कीटेषु च जायते। यः तु देहभेदविवेकात् कर्मक्षयजन्यं देहवियोगं पश्यति, स सम्यग्दर्शी भवति।
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 66)
Concept: Karma propels repeated birth across lower and higher forms; insight arises by discerning the body as a changing sheath and recognizing separation from embodied existence as tied to karma’s exhaustion—opening the door to liberation-oriented detachment.
Application: Reflect daily on impermanence of the body and consequences of actions; choose sattvic habits, avoid harm, and anchor identity in the soul’s relation to Viṣṇu rather than in transient embodiments.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A flowing ‘river’ of births winds across the canvas: from human life to animal forms to tiny insects, each emerging from a luminous karmic seed. At the center, a contemplative seeker holds a mirror-like disc reflecting multiple bodies cracking and falling away like shells, while a calm inner light remains unchanged—signifying discernment beyond embodiment.","primary_figures":["A seeker practicing viveka","Symbolic forms of rebirth (human, animal, insect)","Karmic seed/flame motif"],"setting":"A symbolic landscape blending earth and subtle realms: a winding path/river of life-forms, with a quiet meditation grove at the center.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["pearl white","emerald green","amber","midnight blue","earth brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central meditating seeker with gold leaf aura; surrounding concentric rings showing successive yonis—human, beasts, insects—painted as narrative medallions; gold leaf used to highlight the ‘karmic seed’ and the unchanging inner light; rich reds/greens and ornate borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant, story-like panorama with a winding stream representing saṃsāra; small, finely detailed creatures along the banks; the seeker seated under a tree with a reflective disc symbolizing deha-bheda; cool blues and greens with delicate linework.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined central yogin; stylized panels of rebirth forms around him; strong natural pigments, rhythmic patterning; the karmic chain depicted as a serpent-like band encircling the scene, broken near the yogin’s heart-light.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: mandala composition with lotus borders; central figure in contemplation; surrounding rings of life-forms rendered ornamentally; deep blue background with gold floral motifs; subtle Vaishnava symbols (chakra/śaṅkha) indicating the path beyond karma."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft cymbals","quiet silence between pādas","night insects (very faint)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: योनि-कीटेषु = योनिकीटेषु (तत्पुरुष); कर्म-वशात् + पुनः = कर्मवशात्पुनः; पश्येत् + वियोगम् = पश्येद्वियोगम्; कर्म-संक्षयात् = कर्मसंक्षयात् (तत्पुरुष).
FAQs
It states that rebirth happens under the compulsion of karma—even into very low forms of life—until karmic forces are exhausted.
It points to discriminative insight: recognizing the body as changeable and distinct across births, rather than the self being identical with any single embodiment.
It encourages detachment and right understanding of karma: by seeing embodied life as karmically conditioned, one cultivates dispassion and aims for karmic cessation rather than further entanglement.