Shloka 21

Adhyaya 10 — Jaimini’s Questions on Birth, Death, Karma, and the Embodied Journey

Sanskrit

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणाञ्चापि योनिषु ।

पुनश्च पशुकीटानां मृगाणामथ पक्षिणाम् ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśāṃ śūdrāṇāñ cāpi yoniṣu /

punaś ca paśu-kīṭānāṃ mṛgāṇām atha pakṣiṇām

Translation

เรากำเนิดในครรภ์ของพราหมณ์ กษัตริย์ แพศย์ และศูทร; และยังได้เกิดอีกครั้งท่ามกลางสัตว์ แมลง กวาง (สัตว์ป่า) และนกทั้งหลายด้วย

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśām: of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas
• brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa + kṣatriya + viś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana; dvandva-samāsa, genitive plural collective

• śūdrāṇām: of Shudras
• śūdrāṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• api: also
• api: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Sambhāvanā/Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (particle: also/even)

• yoniṣu: in wombs/births
• yoniṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Bahuvacana; adhikaraṇa

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla/krama-avyaya (adverb: again)

• ca: and
• ca: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• paśu-kīṭānām: of beasts and insects/worms
• paśu-kīṭānām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu + kīṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana; dvandva-samāsa

• mṛgāṇām: of deer/wild animals
• mṛgāṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana

• atha: then
• atha: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Anantarya/krama-avyaya (particle: then/and also)

• pakṣiṇām: of birds
• pakṣiṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठī-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana

Speakers

• Unspecified speaker recounting experiential knowledge of repeated births (dialogue context within Markandeya Purana)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Saṃsāra
• Karma
• Dispassion (vairāgya)
• Mokṣa-oriented reflection

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse stresses the vast range of embodied existence produced by karma—human and non-human—prompting detachment from pride of birth and strengthening the resolve for liberation.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Primarily aligns with Vamśānucarita/Dharma-kathā style ethical instruction rather than strict Sarga/Pratisarga; it functions as mokṣa-śāstra within narrative discourse.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘many wombs’ motif symbolizes the jīva’s identification with guṇas and forms; recognizing this endless cycling is the inner trigger for turning toward the formless Brahman.