Shloka 6

Saṃsāra-cakra, Preta’s 12-day Transit to Yama, Re-embodiment, and Karma-Vipāka Catalog of Sins and Rebirths

Devanagari script

स्वर्गाच्च नरकात्त्यक्तः स्त्रीणां गर्भे भवत्यपि / नाभिभूतञ्च तस्यैव याति बीजद्वयं हि तत्

Transliteration

svargācca narakāttyaktaḥ strīṇāṃ garbhe bhavatyapi / nābhibhūtañca tasyaiva yāti bījadvayaṃ hi tat

Translation

เมื่อพ้นจากสวรรค์และนรกแล้ว สัตว์ผู้มีวิญญาณย่อมเกิดใหม่ในครรภ์สตรี และเมล็ดพันธุ์สองประการอันเป็นเหตุแห่งกายย่อมมาถึงเขานั้น.

Word by Word

• स्वर्गात्: from heaven
• स्वर्गात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• नरकात्: from hell
• नरकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• त्यक्तः: having left
• त्यक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘abandoned/left’

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• गर्भे: in the womb
• गर्भे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• भवति: becomes/arises
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थक-निपात (also/even)

• नाभिभूतम्: having become the navel (navel-formed)
• नाभिभूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाभि-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; भू (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त, तत्पुरुष (‘नाभिः भूता’/‘नाभिरूपं’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• तस्य: of that (embryo)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (only/indeed)

• याति: goes/turns into
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• बीजद्वयम्: the two seeds (male & female)
• बीजद्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज-द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘द्वे बीजे’)

• हि: for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (for/indeed)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After the fruits of svarga or naraka are spent, the jīva returns to birth in a woman’s womb; embodiment proceeds via ‘twofold seed’ (paired generative essences) becoming the basis for the new body.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra and karma-kṣaya; jīva’s association with subtle causes leading to gross embodiment; human birth as karmically conditioned.

Application: Use human life for dharma and spiritual practice rather than mere enjoyment; recognize that pleasure/pain realms are temporary and lead back to rebirth.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: transition between realms and earthly birth

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: garbha-śarīra/embryology passages; rebirth after svarga/naraka; Garuda Purana: impermanence of svarga and naraka fruits

Characters & Entities

• Svarga
• Naraka
• Garbha (womb)

FAQs

What is the importance of rebirth after heaven or hell in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that even after experiencing svarga or naraka, the jīva returns to embodiment through birth in a womb—showing that heaven/hell are temporary results of karma, not final liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It presents a cyclical model: the being departs to post-death realms (svarga/naraka) according to deeds, and when those results are exhausted, he is “sent forth” again into conception, taking a new body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat actions as long-term causes: ethical conduct and dharma-oriented living reduce painful karmic outcomes and support a more sattvic destiny, rather than relying on temporary post-death rewards.