Shloka 66

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

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

Devanagari script

ततः कालक्रमाज्जन्तुः परिवर्त्यत्वधोमुखः / नवमे दशमे वापि मासि संजायते ततः

Transliteration

tataḥ kālakramājjantuḥ parivartyatvadhomukhaḥ / navame daśame vāpi māsi saṃjāyate tataḥ

Translation

తర్వాత కాలక్రమంలో జీవుడు తిరిగి అధోముఖంగా (తల కిందకు) మారుతాడు; ఆపై తొమ్మిదో లేదా పదో నెలలో జన్మిస్తుంది.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adverbial (Kriya-visheshana/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (thereupon/from that)

• कालक्रमात्: from the course of time; in due sequence
• कालक्रमात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'कालस्य क्रमः'

• जन्तुः: the creature/embryo
• जन्तुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• परिवर्त्य: having turned/changed position
• परिवर्त्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable)

• अधोमुखः: face downward
• अधोमुखः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्राय: 'अधः मुखं यस्य' = facing downward

• नवमे: in the ninth (month)
• नवमे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दशमे: in the tenth (month)
• दशमे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Discourse particle (Nipata/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Discourse particle (Nipata/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• मासि: in the month
• मासि: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• संजायते: is born; comes into being
• संजायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-जा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adverbial (Kriya-visheshana/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (thereupon)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodiment proceeds by time’s sequence; the jīva is compelled into birth according to karmic momentum.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha-karma unfolding through kāla; the jīva’s helplessness under saṃsāric causality without liberating knowledge.

Application: Use contemplation of birth’s constraints to strengthen resolve for sādhana now; avoid postponing ethical/spiritual reform.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: body-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32 (garbha-vṛttānta: fetal condition, turning, and birth timing)

Characters & Entities

• Jantu (embodied being/embryo)
• Jiva (implied)

FAQs

What is the importance of fetal turning (adhomukha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse marks the final stage before delivery: the jantu turns head-down as time ripens, indicating birth is imminent within the ninth or tenth month.

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

By describing the jantu’s timed movement toward birth, it situates the jiva’s embodiment within samsara—life proceeds by kāla (time) and karmic momentum into another birth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages reverence for life’s ordered process and supports dharmic conduct—seeing birth as part of karmic continuity motivates ethical living and mindful family/ritual responsibilities.