Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 13
An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body
Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā
षोडशर्तुर्निशाः स्त्रीणां सामान्यात् समुदाहृतः / या चतुर्दशमी रात्रिर्गर्भस्तिष्ठति तत्र चेत्
ṣoḍaśarturniśāḥ strīṇāṃ sāmānyāt samudāhṛtaḥ / yā caturdaśamī rātrirgarbhastiṣṭhati tatra cet
Nói chung, mười sáu đêm được tuyên dạy là mùa thụ thai của người nữ. Nhưng nếu vào đêm thứ mười bốn, bào thai kết tụ và an trụ nơi ấy, thì theo lời giáo huấn sẽ hàm ý một kết quả đặc biệt.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Rtu-kala (fertile season) and the significance of timing in conception; orderliness of procreation as a regulated act.
Vedantic Theme: Rta/dharma as cosmic order reflected in bodily processes; karma operates through lawful causality (niyati).
Application: Observe the traditionally taught fertile window; treat conception as a disciplined, intentional act with attention to timing.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.14-17 (continuation on auspicious conception, diet, regimen)
FAQs
This verse states that, as a general rule, a woman’s fertile window is counted as sixteen nights, forming the scriptural basis for timing-related guidance in household life.
Though the Preta Kanda is widely known for after-death topics, it also preserves dharmic instructions for embodied life—here, linking bodily cycles and conception (garbha) to traditional calendrical counting of nights.
It encourages mindful, responsible family life—treating conception as a deliberate act aligned with health, ethics, and tradition, rather than as a purely casual event.