Shloka 58

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

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

Devanagari script

अधोमुखं चोर्ध्वपादं गर्भाद्वायुः प्रकर्षति / तले तु करयोर्न्यस्य वर्धते जानुपार्श्वयोः

Transliteration

adhomukhaṃ cordhvapādaṃ garbhādvāyuḥ prakarṣati / tale tu karayornyasya vardhate jānupārśvayoḥ

Translation

ภายในครรภ์ ลมปราณ (วายุ) กดดันทารกให้อยู่ในท่าหน้าคว่ำ เท้าชี้ขึ้น; วางฝ่ามือบนฝ่าเท้า แล้วเจริญเติบโตโดยงอเข่าเข้าหาด้านข้าง

Word by Word

• अधोमुखम्: face-down
• अधोमुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधस् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjectival)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• ऊर्ध्वपादम्: with feet upwards
• ऊर्ध्वपादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjectival)

• गर्भात्: from the womb
• गर्भात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन (Masculine, Ablative, Singular)

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• प्रकर्षति: draws/pulls strongly
• प्रकर्षति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृश्/कर्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Present indicative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada)

• तले: on the sole/base
• तले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• करयोः: of the two hands
• करयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Dual)

• न्यस्य: having placed
• न्यस्य: Kriya (Action-modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having placed’

• वर्धते: grows/increases
• वर्धते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Present indicative, 3rd person, Singular, Atmanepada)

• जानुपार्श्वयोः: of the sides of the knees
• जानुपार्श्वयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; ‘जानुनोः पार्श्वयोः’ (Neuter, Genitive, Dual)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodiment is governed by prāṇa (vāyu) and prior causes; the jīva is shaped and constrained before birth.

Vedantic Theme: Jīva’s saṃsāric limitation under prakṛti; prāṇa as an instrument of karma in forming the body.

Application: Cultivate detachment and compassion by reflecting on the body’s contingent formation; support prenatal care and non-harm (ahiṃsā) toward pregnant beings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: intrauterine space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32 (garbha-śarīra-vṛddhi context, adjacent verses 2.32.57-63); Garuda Purana 2.33 (often continues with birth/duḥkha reflections in some recensions)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu
• Garbha (fetus)

FAQs

What is the importance of vāyu (vital wind) in this Garuda Purana verse?

This verse portrays vāyu as the internal force that constrains and positions the fetus in the womb, emphasizing that bodily formation and posture are governed by subtle vital functions rather than mere chance.

How does this verse explain the embodied condition of the soul before birth?

By describing the fetus pressed into a cramped, inverted posture, the verse highlights the limitation and discomfort inherent in embodiment—setting a context for the Purana’s broader teaching that life in a body is shaped by forces (including karmic conditions) operating through prāṇa and vāyu.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages humility and detachment: recognizing the constrained nature of embodied life, one should live ethically, cultivate self-discipline, and value spiritual practice over bodily pride.