The Siddha Explains Death and Rebirth

Verse 1 (14.18.1)

ततस्तस्योपसङ्गृह्य पादौ प्रश्नान्सुदुर्वचान् । पप्रच्छ तांश्च धर्मान्स प्राह धर्मभृतांवरः ॥

tatastasyopasaṅgṛhya pādau praśnānsudurvacān | papraccha tāṃśca dharmānsa prāha dharmabhṛtāṃvaraḥ

Then, clasping his feet, he put to him those questions so hard to answer, and asked him also about those matters of dharma; and that best of the upholders of dharma replied.

Note on the text: Second line reads "पप्रच्छ तांश्च धर्मान्स प्राह" (CE: "papraccha tāṃś ca sarvān sa prāha"); a recension variant, kept.

Verse 2 (14.18.2)

कथं शरीराच्च्यवते कथं चैवोपपद्यते । कथं कष्टाच्च संसारात्संसरन्परिमुच्यते ॥

kathaṃ śarīrāccyavate kathaṃ caivopapadyate | kathaṃ kaṣṭācca saṃsārātsaṃsaranparimucyate

How does one fall away from the body, and how is one born again? How, wandering through this painful round of rebirth, is one set free from it?

Verse 3 (14.18.3)

आत्मानं वा कथं युक्त्वा तच्छरीरं विमुञ्चति । शरीरे च विनिर्मुक्तो कथमन्यत्प्रपद्यते ॥

ātmānaṃ vā kathaṃ yuktvā taccharīraṃ vimuñcati | śarīre ca vinirmukto kathamanyatprapadyate

And how, having yoked the self, does one leave that body? Released from the body, how does one pass into another?

Note on the text: Second line reads "शरीरे च विनिर्मुक्तो" (CE: "śarīrataś ca nirmuktaḥ"); a recension variant, kept.

Verse 4 (14.18.4)

कथं शुभाशुभे चायं कर्मणी स्वकृते नरः । उपभुङ्क्ते क्व वा कर्म विदेहस्योपतिष्ठते ॥

kathaṃ śubhāśubhe cāyaṃ karmaṇī svakṛte naraḥ | upabhuṅkte kva vā karma videhasyopatiṣṭhate

How does a man enjoy the good and the evil deeds he has himself done? And where does his deed abide when he is without a body?

Verse 5 (14.18.5)

एवं सञ्चोदितः सिद्धः प्रश्नांस्तान्प्रत्यभाषत । आनुपूर्व्येण वार्ष्णेय तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥

evaṃ sañcoditaḥ siddhaḥ praśnāṃstānpratyabhāṣata | ānupūrvyeṇa vārṣṇeya tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu

Thus questioned, the Siddha answered those questions. O scion of Vrishni, listen as I tell it to you in due order.

Note on the text: Corrected शृणुः → शृणु (misprint in Wikisource; imperative "śṛṇu"; the visarga is spurious, CE reads "śṛṇu").

Verse 6 (14.18.6)

अस्मिन्नेवाशु फलदा आयुष्यास्तु क्रियाःस्मृताः । आयुःकीर्तिकराणीह यानि कृत्यानि सेवते । शरीरग्रहणेऽन्यस्मिंस्तेषु क्षीणेषु सर्वशः ॥

asminnevāśu phaladā āyuṣyāstu kriyāḥsmṛtāḥ | āyuḥkīrtikarāṇīha yāni kṛtyāni sevate | śarīragrahaṇe'nyasmiṃsteṣu kṣīṇeṣu sarvaśaḥ

Acts that give length of days are held to bear fruit quickly, in this very life. Of the deeds he follows here that bring long life and renown, when all of these have been used up and the taking of another body is at hand,

Note on the text: Removed the stray opening backtick (`) printed before the verse. Not an ordinary numbered verse of the critical edition: line 1 is the CE star passage 14,017.005d*0038_01 ("asminn evāśubhaphalā āyuṣyās tu kriyāḥ smṛtāḥ", a variant of the Wikisource line), and lines 2–3 are CE 14.17.6a,c (cited as ce_ref). No Appendix I passage occurs in 14,017–14,018.

Verse 7 (14.18.7)

आयुःक्षयपरीतात्मा विपरीतानि सेवते । बुद्धिर्व्यावर्तते चास्य विनाशे प्रत्युपस्थिते ॥

āyuḥkṣayaparītātmā viparītāni sevate | buddhirvyāvartate cāsya vināśe pratyupasthite

his mind gripped by the waning of his life, he takes to harmful ways; and when destruction stands near, his judgment turns awry.

Verse 8 (14.18.8)

सत्त्वं बलं च कालं चाविदित्वा चात्मनस्तथा । अतिवेलमुपाश्नाति स्वविरुद्धान्यनात्मवान् ॥

sattvaṃ balaṃ ca kālaṃ cāviditvā cātmanastathā | ativelamupāśnāti svaviruddhānyanātmavān

Not knowing his own vitality, his strength, or the proper time, the man who has no hold on himself indulges beyond measure in what is bad for him.

Note on the text: Second line reads "स्वविरुद्धान्यनात्मवान्" (CE: "tair viruddhāny anātmavān"); a recension variant, kept.

Verse 9 (14.18.9)

यदाऽयमतिकष्टानि सर्वाण्युपनिषेवते । अत्यर्थमपि वा भुङ्क्ते न वा भुङ्क्ते कदाचन ॥

yadā'yamatikaṣṭāni sarvāṇyupaniṣevate | atyarthamapi vā bhuṅkte na vā bhuṅkte kadācana

When he practises every kind of excess that brings suffering, eating too much at one time and at another not eating at all,

Verse 10 (14.18.10)

दुष्टान्नामिषपानं च यदन्योन्यविरोधि च । गुरु चाप्यमितं भुङ्क्ते नातिजीर्णे दिवा पुनः ॥

duṣṭānnāmiṣapānaṃ ca yadanyonyavirodhi ca | guru cāpyamitaṃ bhuṅkte nātijīrṇe divā punaḥ

taking spoiled food, meat and drink, things that clash with one another, heavy food in measureless quantity, and eating again by day before the last meal is digested,

Note on the text: Wikisource and CE differ in wording here (CE: "duṣṭānnaṃ viṣamānnaṃ ca so 'nyonyena virodhi ca / guru vāpi samaṃ bhuṅkte nātijīrṇe 'pi vā punaḥ"); a recension variant, kept. The page's apparatus (post-colophon gloss) is not added.

Verse 11 (14.18.11)

व्यायाममतिमात्रं च व्यवायं चोपसेवते । सततं कर्मलोभाद्वा प्राप्तं वेगं विधारयेत् ॥

vyāyāmamatimātraṃ ca vyavāyaṃ copasevate | satataṃ karmalobhādvā prāptaṃ vegaṃ vidhārayet

practising exercise beyond measure and sexual intercourse, or, from constant greed for work, holding back a natural urge when it has come,

Note on the text: Corrected व्यावाय → व्यवायं (misprint in Wikisource; "vyavāyaṃ", sexual intercourse; "व्यावाय" is not a word, CE reads "vyavāyaṃ copasevate").

Verse 12 (14.18.12)

रसाभियुक्तमन्नं वा दिवास्वप्नं च सेवते । अपक्वानागते काले स्वयं दोषान्प्रकोपयेत् ॥

rasābhiyuktamannaṃ vā divāsvapnaṃ ca sevate | apakvānāgate kāle svayaṃ doṣānprakopayet

or he eats food overloaded with flavours and sleeps by day, and so, with the proper time not yet come and the food undigested, he himself stirs up the faults of his body.

Verse 13 (14.18.13)

स्वदोषकोपनाद्रोगं लभते मरणान्तिकम् । अपि वोद्बन्धनादीनि परीतानि व्यवस्यति ॥

svadoṣakopanādrogaṃ labhate maraṇāntikam | api vodbandhanādīni parītāni vyavasyati

From the disturbance of his own humours he falls into a disease that ends in death; or he resolves on such ruinous ends as hanging himself and the like.

Verse 14 (14.18.14)

तस्य तैः कारणैर्जन्तोः शरीरं च्यवते तदा । जीवितं प्रोच्यमानं तद्यथावदुपधारय ॥

tasya taiḥ kāraṇairjantoḥ śarīraṃ cyavate tadā | jīvitaṃ procyamānaṃ tadyathāvadupadhāraya

By such causes the body of the creature gives way. Now grasp rightly what is being said about life itself.

Verse 15 (14.18.15)

ऊष्मा प्रकुपितः काये तीव्रवायुसमीरितः । शरीरमनुपर्येत्य सर्वान्प्राणान्रुणद्धि वै ॥

ūṣmā prakupitaḥ kāye tīvravāyusamīritaḥ | śarīramanuparyetya sarvānprāṇānruṇaddhi vai

The heat, inflamed in the body and driven by a violent wind, spreads through the whole body and blocks all the vital breaths.

Verse 16 (14.18.16)

अत्यर्थं बलवानूष्मा शरीरे परिकोपितः । भिनत्ति जीवस्थानानि तानि मर्माणि विद्धि च ॥

atyarthaṃ balavānūṣmā śarīre parikopitaḥ | bhinatti jīvasthānāni tāni marmāṇi viddhi ca

The heat, grown exceedingly strong and inflamed in the body, breaks open the seats of life; know these to be the vital spots.

Note on the text: Corrected कर्मणि → मर्माणि (misprint in Wikisource; "marmāṇi", the vital spots, as the next verses and CE ("tāni marmāṇi viddhi ca") require).

Verse 17 (14.18.17)

ततः सवेदनः सद्यो जीवः प्रच्यवते क्षरन् । शरीरं त्यजते जन्तुश्छिद्यमानेषु मर्मसु । वेदनाभिः परीतात्मा तद्विद्धि द्विजसत्तम ॥

tataḥ savedanaḥ sadyo jīvaḥ pracyavate kṣaran | śarīraṃ tyajate jantuśchidyamāneṣu marmasu | vedanābhiḥ parītātmā tadviddhi dvijasattama

Then, in pain, the living self at once slips away, flowing out. The creature leaves the body as its vital spots are being cut through, overwhelmed by agonies. Know this, best of the twice-born.

Note on the text: Three-line verse as printed (14-18-17a,b,c) = CE 14.17.17a,c,e.

Verse 18 (14.18.18)

जनीमरणसंविग्नाः सततं सर्वजन्तवः । दृश्यन्ते संत्यजन्तश्च शरीराणि द्विजर्षभ ॥

janīmaraṇasaṃvignāḥ satataṃ sarvajantavaḥ | dṛśyante saṃtyajantaśca śarīrāṇi dvijarṣabha

All creatures are ever in dread of birth and death, and they are seen casting off their bodies, O best of Brahmins.

Note on the text: Wikisource printed 14-18-18a,b and 14-18-19c,b together as one four-line row. Split into two couplets at the page's own labels; this is the first (14-18-18), and the second becomes verse 19, which restores the skipped number. Corrected संविग्राः → संविग्नाः (misprint in Wikisource; "saṃvignāḥ", distressed; CE reads "saṃvignāḥ"). CE 14.17.18 reads "jātī-", Wikisource "जनी-"; a recension variant, kept.

Verse 19 (14.18.19)

गर्भसंक्रमणे चापि गर्भाणामुपसर्पणे । तादृशीमेव लभते वेदनां मानवः पुनः ॥

garbhasaṃkramaṇe cāpi garbhāṇāmupasarpaṇe | tādṛśīmeva labhate vedanāṃ mānavaḥ punaḥ

And at the entry into the womb, at the approach of embryos, a man again suffers pain of exactly the same kind.

Note on the text: Second half of the four-line Wikisource row 14-18-18/19 (labels 19c,19b); split off as its own verse, numbered 19. Corrected गर्भाणापुपसर्पणे → गर्भाणामुपसर्पणे (misprint in Wikisource; "garbhāṇām upasarpaṇe"; "पु" is a slip for "मु". CE has a different wording here, "marmaṇām atisarpaṇe", so the Wikisource reading is kept in its corrected form). = CE 14.17.19.

Verse 20 (14.18.20)

भिन्नसंधिरथ क्लेदमद्भिः स लभते नरः ॥

bhinnasaṃdhiratha kledamadbhiḥ sa labhate naraḥ

His joints loosened, that man then receives moisture from the waters.

Note on the text: One-line verse as printed (14-18-20a) = CE 14.17.20a; CE 20c,e are the next verse here.

Verse 21 (14.18.21)

यथा पञ्चसु भूतेषु सम्भूतत्वं नियच्छति । शैत्यात्प्रकुपितः काये तीव्रवायुसमीरितः ॥

yathā pañcasu bhūteṣu sambhūtatvaṃ niyacchati | śaityātprakupitaḥ kāye tīvravāyusamīritaḥ

So he comes to be held in the state of being compounded of the five elements; and the wind, provoked in the body by cold and driven by a fierce force,

Note on the text: Couplet = CE 14.17.20c,e ("saṃśritatvaṃ nigacchati", Wikisource "सम्भूतत्वं नियच्छति", a recension variant, kept).

Verse 22 (14.18.22)

यः स पञ्चसु भूतेषु प्राणापाने व्यवस्थितः । स गच्छत्यूर्ध्वगो वायुः कृच्छ्रान्मुक्त्वा शरीरिणः । शरीरं च जहात्येवं निरुच्छ्वासश्च दृश्यते ॥

yaḥ sa pañcasu bhūteṣu prāṇāpāne vyavasthitaḥ | sa gacchatyūrdhvago vāyuḥ kṛcchrānmuktvā śarīriṇaḥ | śarīraṃ ca jahātyevaṃ nirucchvāsaśca dṛśyate

that wind which abides among the five elements as the upward and downward breaths rises upward, leaving the embodied one with difficulty; and so he abandons the body and is seen to be without breath.

Note on the text: Three-line verse as printed (14-18-22a,b,c) = CE 14.17.21a,c and 22a.

Verse 23 (14.18.23)

स निरूष्मा निरुच्छ्वासो निःश्रीको गतचेतनः । कर्मणा सम्परित्यक्तो मृत इत्युच्यते नरः ॥

sa nirūṣmā nirucchvāso niḥśrīko gatacetanaḥ | karmaṇā samparityakto mṛta ityucyate naraḥ

Without heat, without breath, bereft of lustre and of consciousness, forsaken by his deeds, the man is called dead.

Note on the text: Couplet = CE 14.17.22c and 23a ("brahmaṇā saṃparityaktaḥ"; Wikisource "कर्मणा सम्परित्यक्तो", a recension variant, kept).

Verse 24 (14.18.24)

स्रोतोभिर्यैर्विजानाति इन्द्रियार्थाञ्शरीरभृत् । तैरेव न विजानाति प्राणानाहारसम्भवान् ॥

srotobhiryairvijānāti indriyārthāñśarīrabhṛt | taireva na vijānāti prāṇānāhārasambhavān

By the channels through which the embodied one perceives the objects of the senses, by those very channels he no longer perceives the vital breaths that arise from food.

Note on the text: Couplet = CE 14.17.23c,e.

Verse 25 (14.18.25)

तत्रैव कुरुते काये यः स जीवः सनातनः ॥

tatraiva kurute kāye yaḥ sa jīvaḥ sanātanaḥ

That eternal living self which acts in that very body.

Note on the text: One-line verse as printed (14-18-25a) = CE 14.17.24a.

Verse 26 (14.18.26)

तथा यद्यद्भवेन्युक्तं सन्निपाते क्वचित्क्वचित् । तत्तन्मर्म विजानीहि शास्त्रदृष्टं हि तत्तथा ॥

tathā yadyadbhavenyuktaṃ sannipāte kvacitkvacit | tattanmarma vijānīhi śāstradṛṣṭaṃ hi tattathā

Likewise, wherever at some meeting-point something is joined, know each such place as a vital spot; for so it is seen in the treatises.

Note on the text: Corrected मुक्तं → युक्तं (misprint in Wikisource; "yuktaṃ", joined; य and म are easily confused in print and CE reads "yad yad bhaved yuktaṃ"). Couplet = CE 14.17.24c,e (CE "teṣāṃ" for Wikisource "तथा", a recension variant, kept).

Verse 27 (14.18.27)

तेषु मर्मसु भिन्नेषु ततः स समुदीरयन् । आविश्य हृदयं जन्तोः सत्त्वं चाशु रुणद्धि वै ॥

teṣu marmasu bhinneṣu tataḥ sa samudīrayan | āviśya hṛdayaṃ jantoḥ sattvaṃ cāśu ruṇaddhi vai

When those vital spots are broken, the rising wind enters the heart of the creature and swiftly shuts off its consciousness.

Note on the text: Couplet = CE 14.17.25a,c.

Verse 28 (14.18.28)

ततः सचेतनो जन्तुर्नाभिजानाति किञ्चन । तमसा संवृतज्ञानः संवृतेष्वेव मर्मसु । स जीवो निरधिष्ठानश्चाल्यते मातरिश्वना ॥

tataḥ sacetano janturnābhijānāti kiñcana | tamasā saṃvṛtajñānaḥ saṃvṛteṣveva marmasu | sa jīvo niradhiṣṭhānaścālyate mātariśvanā

Then the creature, though still sentient, knows nothing at all, its knowledge enveloped in darkness while its vital spots are shut in; and that living self, without a support, is shaken by the wind.

Note on the text: Corrected निरदिष्ठानश् → निरधिष्ठानश् (misprint in Wikisource; "niradhiṣṭhānaś", without a support; CE reads "niradhiṣṭhānaś"). Three-line verse as printed (14-18-28a,b,c) = CE 14.17.25e, 26a, 26c.

Verse 29 (14.18.29)

ततः स तं महोच्छ्वासं भृशमुच्छ्वस्य दारुणम् । निष्क्रमन्कम्पयत्याशु तच्छरीरमचेतनम् ॥

tataḥ sa taṃ mahocchvāsaṃ bhṛśamucchvasya dāruṇam | niṣkramankampayatyāśu taccharīramacetanam

Then, drawing in that great and terrible breath deeply, it goes out, shaking that now senseless body.

Verse 30 (14.18.30)

स जीवः प्रच्युतः कायात्कर्मभिः स्वैः समावृतः । अङ्कितः स्वैः शुभैः पुण्यैः पापैर्वाऽप्युपपद्यते ॥

sa jīvaḥ pracyutaḥ kāyātkarmabhiḥ svaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ | aṅkitaḥ svaiḥ śubhaiḥ puṇyaiḥ pāpairvā'pyupapadyate

That living self, fallen from the body and enveloped by its own deeds, is marked by its own good works of merit or by its sins, and takes birth accordingly.

Verse 31 (14.18.31)

ब्राह्मणा ज्ञानसम्पन्ना यथावच्छ्रुतनिश्चयाः । इतरं कृतपुण्यं वा तं विजानन्ति लक्षणैः ॥

brāhmaṇā jñānasampannā yathāvacchrutaniścayāḥ | itaraṃ kṛtapuṇyaṃ vā taṃ vijānanti lakṣaṇaiḥ

Brahmins rich in knowledge, sure of what they have rightly learned, recognise by signs whether he is one who has gained merit or the other.

Verse 32 (14.18.32)

यथान्धकारे खद्योतं दीप्यमानं ततस्ततः । चक्षुष्मन्तः प्रपश्यन्ति तथा च ज्ञानचक्षुषः ॥

yathāndhakāre khadyotaṃ dīpyamānaṃ tatastataḥ | cakṣuṣmantaḥ prapaśyanti tathā ca jñānacakṣuṣaḥ

As, in the dark, those who have eyes see a firefly shining here and there, so do those with the eye of knowledge see him.

Note on the text: Corrected खद्येतं → खद्योतं (misprint in Wikisource; "khadyota", firefly; CE reads "khadyotaṃ"). Second half of the line differs from CE ("līyamānaṃ … tathā taṃ"); a recension variant, kept.

Verse 33 (14.18.33)

पश्यन्त्येवंविधं सिद्धा जीवं दिव्येन चक्षुषा । च्यवन्तं जायमानं च योनिं चानुप्रवेशितम् ॥

paśyantyevaṃvidhaṃ siddhā jīvaṃ divyena cakṣuṣā | cyavantaṃ jāyamānaṃ ca yoniṃ cānupraveśitam

In just this way the Siddhas see the living self with divine sight, as it falls away, as it is born, and as it enters a womb.

Verse 34 (14.18.34)

तस्य स्थानानि दृष्टानि विविधानीह शास्त्रतः । कर्मभूमिरियं भूमिर्यत्र तिष्ठन्ति जन्तवः ॥

tasya sthānāni dṛṣṭāni vividhānīha śāstrataḥ | karmabhūmiriyaṃ bhūmiryatra tiṣṭhanti jantavaḥ

Its various abodes are known here from the treatises. This earth is the land of action, where creatures dwell.

Note on the text: Wikisource "विविधानि" for CE "trividhāni"; a recension variant, kept.

Verse 35 (14.18.35)

ततः शुभाशुभं कृत्वा लभन्ते सर्वदेहिनः । इहैवोच्चावचान्भोगान्प्राप्नुवन्ति स्वकर्मभिः ॥

tataḥ śubhāśubhaṃ kṛtvā labhante sarvadehinaḥ | ihaivoccāvacānbhogānprāpnuvanti svakarmabhiḥ

Having done good and evil here, all embodied beings gain high and low enjoyments, in this very world, through their own deeds.

Verse 36 (14.18.36)

इहैवाशुभकर्माणः कर्मभिर्निरयं गताः । अवाग्गतिरियं कष्टा यत्र पच्यन्ति मानवाः । तस्मात्सुदुर्लभो मोक्षो रक्ष्यश्चात्मा ततो भृशम् ॥

ihaivāśubhakarmāṇaḥ karmabhirnirayaṃ gatāḥ | avāggatiriyaṃ kaṣṭā yatra pacyanti mānavāḥ | tasmātsudurlabho mokṣo rakṣyaścātmā tato bhṛśam

Those of evil deeds go to hell through their deeds, here itself. This downward course is painful; men are cooked there. Therefore liberation is very hard to win, and the self must be guarded with great care.

Note on the text: Three-line verse as printed (14-18-36a,b,c). Line 1 is a variant of CE 14.17.34a; line 2 is CE star passage 14,017.034d*0039_01 ("arvāg gatir iyaṃ kaṣṭā yatra pacyanti mānavāḥ"); line 3 = CE 14.17.34e.

Verse 37 (14.18.37)

ऊर्ध्वं तु जन्तवो गत्वा येषु स्थानेष्ववस्थिताः । कीर्त्यमानानि तानीह तत्त्वतः संनिबोध मे ॥

ūrdhvaṃ tu jantavo gatvā yeṣu sthāneṣvavasthitāḥ | kīrtyamānāni tānīha tattvataḥ saṃnibodha me

Now hear from me truly of the places in which creatures abide after going upward; they are being recounted here.

Note on the text: Couplet = CE 14.17.35a,c.

Verse 38 (14.18.38)

तच्छ्रुत्वा नैष्ठिकीं बुद्धिं बुद्ध्येथाः कर्मनिश्चयम् । तारारूपाणि सर्वाणि यत्रैतच्चन्द्रमण्डलम् ॥

tacchrutvā naiṣṭhikīṃ buddhiṃ buddhyethāḥ karmaniścayam | tārārūpāṇi sarvāṇi yatraitaccandramaṇḍalam

Having heard that, you should grasp the firm resolve and understand the certainty about action: all these shapes of stars, and this orb of the moon,

Note on the text: Couplet = CE 14.17.35e and 36a.

Verse 39 (14.18.39)

यत्र विभ्राजते लोके स्वभासा सूर्यमण्डलम् । स्थानान्येतानि जानीहि जनानां पुण्यकर्मणाम् ॥

yatra vibhrājate loke svabhāsā sūryamaṇḍalam | sthānānyetāni jānīhi janānāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām

and the orb of the sun that shines in the world with its own light: know these to be the abodes of men of meritorious deeds.

Note on the text: Couplet = CE 14.17.36c,e.

Verse 40 (14.18.40)

कर्मक्षयाच्च ते सर्वे च्यवन्ते वै पुनः पुनः । तत्रापि च विशेषोस्ति दिवि नीचोच्चमध्यमः ॥

karmakṣayācca te sarve cyavante vai punaḥ punaḥ | tatrāpi ca viśeṣosti divi nīcoccamadhyamaḥ

But when their deeds are exhausted, they all fall again and again; and even there, in heaven, there are distinctions of low, high and middle.

Verse 41 (14.18.41)

न च तत्रापि संतोषो दृष्ट्वा दीप्ततरां श्रियम् । इत्येता गतयः सर्वाः पृथक्ते समुदीरिताः ॥

na ca tatrāpi saṃtoṣo dṛṣṭvā dīptatarāṃ śriyam | ityetā gatayaḥ sarvāḥ pṛthakte samudīritāḥ

Even there no one is content, seeing a more brilliant glory. Thus all these courses have been declared to you, each apart.

Verse 42 (14.18.42)

उपपत्तिं तु वक्ष्यामि गर्भस्याहमतः परम् । यथावत्तां निगदतः शृणुष्वावहितो द्विज ॥

upapattiṃ tu vakṣyāmi garbhasyāhamataḥ param | yathāvattāṃ nigadataḥ śṛṇuṣvāvahito dvija

Next I shall tell of the entry of the embryo into the womb. Listen attentively, O twice-born, as I relate it truly.

Note on the text: Corrected तथावत्तां → यथावत्तां (misprint in Wikisource; "yathāvat tāṃ", as it truly is; "तथावत्" does not fit, CE reads "yathāvat tāṃ nigadataḥ").