Shloka 31

Bhadrā and Mitravindā: The Fruits of Namaskāra, Pradakṣiṇā, Hari-nāma, and Śravaṇa of Bhāgavata Kathā

Devanagari script

गर्भे गते नात्र विचार्यमस्ति तन्मन्यते दुर्लभं मर्त्यलोके / कर्णं कल्पैर्भूषितं सुंदरं च न सुंदरं चाहुरार्या रसज्ञाः

Transliteration

garbhe gate nātra vicāryamasti tanmanyate durlabhaṃ martyaloke / karṇaṃ kalpairbhūṣitaṃ suṃdaraṃ ca na suṃdaraṃ cāhurāryā rasajñāḥ

Translation

既已入于母胎，于彼处更无可思量；然而在人世间，人们却以得人身为稀有难得。又虽以饰物装点之耳被称为“美”，然诸贤圣、真知圣味者说：此并非自体之真美。

Word by Word

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

• गते: when (one) has entered / gone
• गते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) with ‘गर्भे’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here/in this matter)

• विचार्यम्: to be deliberated
• विचार्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (Gerundive/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be considered’

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• मन्यते: thinks / considers
• मन्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• दुर्लभम्: rare / hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः/उपसर्ग-युक्त-विशेषण: ‘hard to obtain’

• मर्त्यलोके: in the mortal world
• मर्त्यलोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: मर्त्यानां लोकः

• कर्णम्: ear
• कर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• कल्पैः: with ornaments / adornments
• कल्पैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• भूषितम्: adorned
• भूषितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘adorned’ qualifying कर्णम्

• सुन्दरम्: beautiful
• सुन्दरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण of कर्णम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• सुन्दरम्: beautiful
• सुन्दरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• आर्याः: noble ones
• आर्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• रसज्ञाः: knowers of rasa
• रसज्ञाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: रसस्य ज्ञाः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Human birth is rare and should not be wasted on superficial aesthetics; true ‘beauty’ is inner refinement oriented to spiritual hearing and discernment.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka-vairāgya: body as impermanent; meaningful use of embodiment for śravaṇa and transformation of consciousness.

Application: Shift priorities from external display to inner cultivation: allocate resources/time to learning, listening, and ethical living; practice mindful consumption and simplicity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: womb/human realm (conceptual)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring theme of durlabha-manuṣya-janma and the futility of bodily attachment (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Aryas (the wise)

FAQs

What is the importance of human birth in Garuda Purana?

This verse points out that people call human birth ‘rare’, yet it warns against complacency—mere embodiment (entering the womb) is not the final point; true value lies in wise discernment and inner growth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By contrasting external appearance with what the wise recognize as real, it implies that the soul’s progress depends on inner qualities (viveka, dharma), not on bodily form or ornamentation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the body and its adornments as secondary; prioritize character, dharma, and self-knowledge—use the ‘rare’ human life for meaningful practice rather than display.