Shloka 60

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

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

Devanagari script

एवं वृद्धिं क्रमाद्याति जन्तुः स्त्रीगर्भसंस्थितः / काठिन्यमस्थीन्यायान्ति भुक्तपीतेन जीवति

Transliteration

evaṃ vṛddhiṃ kramādyāti jantuḥ strīgarbhasaṃsthitaḥ / kāṭhinyamasthīnyāyānti bhuktapītena jīvati

Translation

یوں عورت کے رحم میں مقیم جاندار بتدریج بڑھتا ہے؛ اس کی ہڈیاں سخت ہوتی جاتی ہیں، اور وہ ماں کے کھائے پئے سے ہی زندگی پاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• वृद्धिम्: growth
• वृद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)

• क्रमात्: gradually/in order
• क्रमात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source nuance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; ‘क्रमेण’ अर्थे (Masculine, Ablative, Singular; in sequence)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Present indicative, 3rd person, Singular)

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

• स्त्रीगर्भसंस्थितः: situated in a woman's womb
• स्त्रीगर्भसंस्थितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री + गर्भ + संस्थित (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्त्रियाः गर्भे संस्थितः’ (PPP; Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• काठिन्यम्: hardness
• काठिन्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काठिन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• अस्थीनि: bones
• अस्थीनि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Plural)

• आयान्ति: come to/attain
• आयान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (Present indicative, 3rd person, Plural)

• भुक्तपीतेन: by what is eaten and drunk (nutriment)
• भुक्तपीतेन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्त (√भुज्, क्त) + पीत (√पा, क्त) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त द्वन्द्वसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular)

• जीवति: lives
• जीवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Present indicative, 3rd person, Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Life in the womb is sustained by maternal nourishment; embodiment is relational and calls for gratitude and responsibility.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence within saṃsāra; the body is maintained by anna (food), while the self remains distinct.

Application: Honor and care for mothers; adopt ethical nutrition and health practices; cultivate humility about bodily strength being borrowed and maintained.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: intrauterine space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.62 (explicitly continues food/drink transfer and nourishment)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Jantu (embodied being)
• Stri (mother/woman)

FAQs

What is the importance of womb-development descriptions in the Garuda Purana?

They explain how the jīva becomes embodied step-by-step, highlighting rebirth as a karmic process rather than a random event.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It depicts the soul as an embodied being (jantuḥ) entering and developing within the womb, showing the transition from subtle existence to a physical body through ordered growth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages responsibility and care in pregnancy and diet, and reinforces ethical living by reminding that actions (karma) lead to future embodiment.