The Birth of the Embodied Soul

Verse 1 (skanda.1.84.1)

॥अर्जुन उवाच॥ अत्यद्भुतानि तीर्थानि लिंगानि च महामुने॥ श्रुत्वा तव मुखांभोजाद्भृशं मे हृष्यते मनः

arjuna uvāca atyadbhutāni tīrthāni liṁgāni ca mahāmune śrutvā tava mukhāṁbhojādbhṛśaṁ me hṛṣyate manaḥ

Arjuna said: "O great sage, having heard from your lotus mouth of these most wondrous tirthas and lingas, my mind rejoices greatly."

Verse 2 (skanda.1.84.2)

महीनगरकस्यापि स्थापितस्य त्वया मुने॥ यानि तीर्थानि मुख्यानि तानि वर्णय मे प्रभो

mahīnagarakasyāpi sthāpitasya tvayā mune yāni tīrthāni mukhyāni tāni varṇaya me prabho

"Of Mahinagaraka too, which you yourself established, O sage — describe to me, O lord, its principal tirthas."

Verse 3 (skanda.1.84.3)

॥नारद उवाच॥ श्रीमन्महीनगरके यानि तीर्थानि फाल्गुन॥ तानि वक्ष्यामि यत्रास्ते जया दित्यो रविः प्रभुः

nārada uvāca śrīmanmahīnagarake yāni tīrthāni phālguna tāni vakṣyāmi yatrāste jayā dityo raviḥ prabhuḥ

Narada said: "O Phalguna, I shall now tell of the tirthas in glorious Mahinagaraka, where the lord Surya dwells as Jayaditya."

Verse 4 (skanda.1.84.4)

जयादित्यस्य यो नाम कीर्तयेदिह मानवः॥ सर्वरोगविनिर्मुक्तो लभेत्सोऽपि हृदीप्सितम्

jayādityasya yo nāma kīrtayediha mānavaḥ sarvarogavinirmukto labhetso'pi hṛdīpsitam

"Whatever person recites the name of Jayaditya here becomes free of every disease and attains the desire of his heart."

Verse 5 (skanda.1.84.5)

यस्य संदर्शनादेव कल्याणैरपि पूर्यते॥ मुच्यते चाप्यकल्याणैः श्रद्धावान्पार्थ मानवः

yasya saṁdarśanādeva kalyāṇairapi pūryate mucyate cāpyakalyāṇaiḥ śraddhāvānpārtha mānavaḥ

"By the mere sight of him, O Partha, a man of faith is filled with every blessing and released from every misfortune."

Verse 6 (skanda.1.84.6)

तस्य देवस्य चोत्पत्तिं शृणु पार्थ वदामि ते॥ शृण्वन्वा कीर्तयन्वापि प्रसादं भास्कराल्लभेत्

tasya devasya cotpattiṁ śṛṇu pārtha vadāmi te śṛṇvanvā kīrtayanvāpi prasādaṁ bhāskarāllabhet

"Hear, O Partha, the story of that god's origin, which I shall relate to you; by hearing or reciting it, one obtains the grace of Bhaskara, the Sun."

Verse 7 (skanda.1.84.7)

अहं संस्थाप्य संस्थानमेतत्कालेन केनचित्॥ प्रयातो भास्करं लोकं दर्शनार्थी यदृच्छया

ahaṁ saṁsthāpya saṁsthānametatkālena kenacit prayāto bhāskaraṁ lokaṁ darśanārthī yadṛcchayā

"Having established this sacred site at a certain time, I went of my own accord to the world of Bhaskara, wishing to behold him."

Verse 8 (skanda.1.84.8)

स मां प्रणतमासीनमभ्यर्च्यार्घेण भास्करः॥ प्रहसन्निव प्राहेदं देवो मधुरया गिरा

sa māṁ praṇatamāsīnamabhyarcyārgheṇa bhāskaraḥ prahasanniva prāhedaṁ devo madhurayā girā

"Bhaskara, honoring me with an offering as I sat bowed before him, spoke to me, as if smiling, in a sweet voice:"

Verse 9 (skanda.1.84.9)

कुत आगम्यते विप्र क्व च वा प्रतिगम्यते॥ क्व चायं नारदमुने कालस्ते विहृतोऽभवत्

kuta āgamyate vipra kva ca vā pratigamyate kva cāyaṁ nāradamune kālaste vihṛto'bhavat

"'From where have you come, O brahmin, and to where do you go? And where, O sage Narada, has this span of your time been spent?'"

Verse 10 (skanda.1.84.10)

॥नारद उवाच॥ एवमुक्तो भास्करेण तं तदा प्राब्रवं वचः॥ भारते विहृतः खण्डे महीनगरकादपि॥ दर्शनार्थं तव विभो समायातोऽस्मि भास्कर

nārada uvāca evamukto bhāskareṇa taṁ tadā prābravaṁ vacaḥ bhārate vihṛtaḥ khaṇḍe mahīnagarakādapi darśanārthaṁ tava vibho samāyāto'smi bhāskara

Narada said: "Thus questioned by Bhaskara, I then spoke these words to him: 'I have been wandering through the land of Bharata, even from Mahinagaraka, O lord Bhaskara, and have come here for your sight.'"

Verse 11 (skanda.1.84.11)

॥रविरुवाच॥ यत्त्वया स्थापितं स्थानं तत्र ये संति ब्राह्मणाः॥ तेषां गुणान्मम ब्रूहि किंगुणा ननु ते द्विजाः

raviruvāca yattvayā sthāpitaṁ sthānaṁ tatra ye saṁti brāhmaṇāḥ teṣāṁ guṇānmama brūhi kiṁguṇā nanu te dvijāḥ

Ravi said: "Tell me of the qualities of the brahmins who dwell at that place you have established — what virtues do those twice-born possess?"

Verse 12 (skanda.1.84.12)

॥नारद उवाच॥ एवं पृष्टो भगवता पुनरेवाब्रवं वचः

nārada uvāca evaṁ pṛṣṭo bhagavatā punarevābravaṁ vacaḥ

Narada said: "Thus asked by the lord, I again replied with these words:"

Verse 13 (skanda.1.84.13)

यदि तान्भोः प्रशंसामि स्वीयान्स्तौतीति वाच्यता॥ निंदाम्यनर्हान्कस्माद्वा कष्टमेवोभयत्र च

yadi tānbhoḥ praśaṁsāmi svīyānstautīti vācyatā niṁdāmyanarhānkasmādvā kaṣṭamevobhayatra ca

"'If I praise them, it will be said I merely praise my own kin; and why should I disparage those who do not deserve it? Either way is troublesome.'"

Verse 14 (skanda.1.84.14)

अथवा पारमाहात्म्ये सति तेषां महात्मनाम्॥ अल्पे कृते वर्णने स्याद्दोष एव महान्मम

athavā pāramāhātmye sati teṣāṁ mahātmanām alpe kṛte varṇane syāddoṣa eva mahānmama

"'Or again, since the greatness of those great souls has no limit, to describe it only briefly would itself be a grave fault on my part.'"

Verse 15 (skanda.1.84.15)

मदर्चितद्विजेंद्राणां यदि स्याच्छ्रवणेप्सुता॥ ततः स्वयं विलोक्यास्ते गत्वेदं मे मतं रवे

madarcitadvijeṁdrāṇāṁ yadi syācchravaṇepsutā tataḥ svayaṁ vilokyāste gatvedaṁ me mataṁ rave

"'If you wish to hear of these foremost brahmins whom I honor, then go yourself and see them, O Ravi — this is my counsel.'"

Verse 16 (skanda.1.84.16)

इति श्रुत्वा मम वचो रविरासीत्सुविस्मितः॥ स्वयं द्रक्ष्यामि चोवाच पुनःपुनरहर्पतिः

iti śrutvā mama vaco ravirāsītsuvismitaḥ svayaṁ drakṣyāmi covāca punaḥpunaraharpatiḥ

"Hearing my words, Ravi was greatly astonished, and the lord of the day repeated again and again, 'I shall go and see for myself.'"

Verse 17 (skanda.1.84.17)

सोऽथ विप्रतनुं कृत्वा मां विसर्ज्यैव भास्करः॥ प्रतपन्दिवि योगाच्च प्रयातोर्णवरोधसि

so'tha vipratanuṁ kṛtvā māṁ visarjyaiva bhāskaraḥ pratapandivi yogācca prayātorṇavarodhasi

"Then Bhaskara, assuming the form of a brahmin, took leave of me, and by his yogic power went to the ocean's shore even while still blazing in the sky."

Verse 18 (skanda.1.84.18)

जटां त्रिषवणस्नानपिंगलां धारयन्नथ॥ वृद्धद्विजो महातेजा ददृशे ब्राह्मणैर्मम

jaṭāṁ triṣavaṇasnānapiṁgalāṁ dhārayannatha vṛddhadvijo mahātejā dadṛśe brāhmaṇairmama

"Wearing matted locks made tawny by his three daily bathings, he then appeared as an aged, greatly radiant brahmin, seen by my own brahmins."

Verse 19 (skanda.1.84.19)

ततो हारीतप्रमुखाः प्रहर्षोत्फुल्ललोचनाः॥ उत्थाय ब्रह्मशालायास्ते द्विजा द्विजमाद्रवन्

tato hārītapramukhāḥ praharṣotphullalocanāḥ utthāya brahmaśālāyāste dvijā dvijamādravan

"Then Harita and the other brahmins, their eyes wide with delight, rose up from the assembly-hall and ran toward that brahmin."

Verse 20 (skanda.1.84.20)

नमस्कृत्य द्विजाग्र्यं ते प्रहर्षादिदमब्रुवन्

namaskṛtya dvijāgryaṁ te praharṣādidamabruvan

"Bowing to that foremost of brahmins, they spoke these words in great delight:"

Verse 21 (skanda.1.84.21)

अद्य नो दिवसः पुण्यः स्थानमद्योत्तमं त्विदम्॥ यत्त्वया विप्रप्रवर स्वयमागमनं कृतम्

adya no divasaḥ puṇyaḥ sthānamadyottamaṁ tvidam yattvayā viprapravara svayamāgamanaṁ kṛtam

"'Today is a blessed day for us, and this place today has become most excellent, since you, O foremost brahmin, have come here of your own will.'"

Verse 22 (skanda.1.84.22)

धन्यस्य हि गृहस्थस्य कृपयैव द्विजोत्तमाः॥ आतिथ्यवेषेणायांति पावनार्थं न संशयः

dhanyasya hi gṛhasthasya kṛpayaiva dvijottamāḥ ātithyaveṣeṇāyāṁti pāvanārthaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

"'It is only out of grace, without doubt, that the best of brahmins come to a fortunate householder in the guise of a guest, so as to purify him.'"

Verse 23 (skanda.1.84.23)

तत्त्वं गेहानि चास्माकं पादचंक्रमणेन च॥ दर्शनाद्भोजनात्स्थानादस्माभिः सह पावय

tattvaṁ gehāni cāsmākaṁ pādacaṁkramaṇena ca darśanādbhojanātsthānādasmābhiḥ saha pāvaya

"'So sanctify our homes by the very tread of your feet, by your presence, by taking food, and by staying here among us.'"

Verse 24 (skanda.1.84.24)

॥अतिथिरुवाच॥ भोजनं द्विविधं विप्रा प्राकृतं परमं तथा॥ तदहं सम्यगिच्छामि दत्तं परमभोजनम्

atithiruvāca bhojanaṁ dvividhaṁ viprā prākṛtaṁ paramaṁ tathā tadahaṁ samyagicchāmi dattaṁ paramabhojanam

The guest said: "O brahmins, food is of two kinds — the ordinary and the supreme. What I truly wish is to be given the supreme food."

Verse 25 (skanda.1.84.25)

इत्येतदतिथेः श्रुत्वा हारीतः पुत्रमब्रवीत्॥ अष्टवर्षं तु कमठं वेत्सि पुत्र द्विजोदितम्

ityetadatitheḥ śrutvā hārītaḥ putramabravīt aṣṭavarṣaṁ tu kamaṭhaṁ vetsi putra dvijoditam

"Hearing this from the guest, Harita said to his son: 'My son, young as you are at eight years, do you understand this matter spoken of by the brahmins?'"

Verse 26 (skanda.1.84.26)

॥कमठ उवात्र॥ तात प्रणम्य त्वां वक्ष्ये तादृक्परमभोजनम्॥ द्विजं च तर्पयिष्यामि दत्त्वा परमभोजनम्

kamaṭha uvātra tāta praṇamya tvāṁ vakṣye tādṛkparamabhojanam dvijaṁ ca tarpayiṣyāmi dattvā paramabhojanam

Kamatha said: "Father, bowing to you, I shall speak of that supreme food, and I shall satisfy the brahmin by offering him the supreme food."

Verse 27 (skanda.1.84.27)

सुतेन किल जातेन जायते चानृणः पिता॥ सत्यं करिष्ये तद्वाक्यं संतर्प्यातिथिमुत्तमम्

sutena kila jātena jāyate cānṛṇaḥ pitā satyaṁ kariṣye tadvākyaṁ saṁtarpyātithimuttamam

"Indeed, by the birth of a son the father becomes free of debt; I shall prove that saying true by satisfying this excellent guest."

Verse 28 (skanda.1.84.28)

भोजनं द्विप्रकारं च प्रविभागस्तयोरयम्॥ प्राकृतं प्रोच्यते त्वेवमन्यत्परमभोजनम्

bhojanaṁ dviprakāraṁ ca pravibhāgastayorayam prākṛtaṁ procyate tvevamanyatparamabhojanam

"Food is of two kinds, divided thus: one is termed ordinary, and the other, supreme food."

Verse 29 (skanda.1.84.29)

तत्र यत्प्राकृतं नाम प्रकृतिप्रमुखस्य तत्॥ चतुर्विंशतितत्त्वानां गणस्योक्तं हि तर्पणम्

tatra yatprākṛtaṁ nāma prakṛtipramukhasya tat caturviṁśatitattvānāṁ gaṇasyoktaṁ hi tarpaṇam

"Of these, that called 'ordinary' belongs to Prakriti and her chief evolutes — it is said to be the nourishment of the group of the twenty-four tattvas."

Verse 30 (skanda.1.84.30)

षड्रसं भोजनं तच्च पंचभेदं वदंति च॥ येन भुक्तेन तृप्तं स्यात्क्षेत्रं यद्देहलक्षणम्

ṣaḍrasaṁ bhojanaṁ tacca paṁcabhedaṁ vadaṁti ca yena bhuktena tṛptaṁ syātkṣetraṁ yaddehalakṣaṇam

"That food has six flavors and is said to be fivefold; by eating it, the 'field' — that is, the body in its very nature — becomes satisfied."

Verse 31 (skanda.1.84.31)

यथापरं परंनाम प्रोक्तं परमभोजनम्॥ परमः प्रोच्यते चात्मा तस्य तद्भोजनं भवेत्

yathāparaṁ paraṁnāma proktaṁ paramabhojanam paramaḥ procyate cātmā tasya tadbhojanaṁ bhavet

"The other, called 'supreme,' is the food known as parama; the Self is termed 'the Supreme One,' and this food belongs to him."

Verse 32 (skanda.1.84.32)

ततो नानाप्रकारस्य धर्मस्य श्रवणं हि यत्॥ तदन्नं प्रोच्यते भोक्ता क्षेत्रज्ञः श्रवणौ मुखम्

tato nānāprakārasya dharmasya śravaṇaṁ hi yat tadannaṁ procyate bhoktā kṣetrajñaḥ śravaṇau mukham

"The hearing of dharma in its manifold forms — that indeed is called its food; the enjoyer is the Kshetrajna, the knower of the field, and the ears serve as its mouth."

Verse 33 (skanda.1.84.33)

तद्दास्यामि द्विजाग्र्याय पृच्छ विप्र यदिच्छसि॥ शक्तितस्तर्पयिष्यामि त्वामहं विप्रसंसदि

taddāsyāmi dvijāgryāya pṛccha vipra yadicchasi śaktitastarpayiṣyāmi tvāmahaṁ viprasaṁsadi

"'That I shall offer to this foremost brahmin; ask, O brahmin, whatever you wish — to the best of my power I shall satisfy you here in this assembly of brahmins.'"

Verse 34 (skanda.1.84.34)

॥नारद उवाच॥ कमठस्यैतदाकर्ण्य सोऽतिथिर्वचनं महत्॥ मनसैव प्रशस्यामुं प्रश्नमेनमथाकरोत्

nārada uvāca kamaṭhasyaitadākarṇya so'tithirvacanaṁ mahat manasaiva praśasyāmuṁ praśnamenamathākarot

Narada said: "Hearing this great speech of Kamatha, the guest, silently praising him in his mind, then put this question to him:"

Verse 35 (skanda.1.84.35)

कथं संजायते जंतुः कथं चापि प्रलीयते॥ भस्मतामथ संप्राप्य क्व चायं प्रति पद्यते

kathaṁ saṁjāyate jaṁtuḥ kathaṁ cāpi pralīyate bhasmatāmatha saṁprāpya kva cāyaṁ prati padyate

"'How is a living being born, and how does it perish? And having become mere ashes, to where does it then go?'"

Verse 36 (skanda.1.84.36)

॥कमठ उवाच॥ गुरवे प्राङ्नमस्कृत्य धर्माय तदनंतरम्॥ छंदोगीतममुं प्रश्नं शक्त्या वक्ष्यामि ते द्विज

kamaṭha uvāca gurave prāṅnamaskṛtya dharmāya tadanaṁtaram chaṁdogītamamuṁ praśnaṁ śaktyā vakṣyāmi te dvija

Kamatha said: "Having first bowed to my guru, and then to Dharma, O brahmin, I shall answer this question — sung of in the Chandogya — to the best of my power."

Verse 37 (skanda.1.84.37)

जनने त्रिविधं कर्म हेतुर्जंतोर्भवेत्किल॥ पुण्यं पापं च मिश्रं च सत्त्वराजसतामसम्

janane trividhaṁ karma heturjaṁtorbhavetkila puṇyaṁ pāpaṁ ca miśraṁ ca sattvarājasatāmasam

"At birth, threefold karma is indeed the cause for a living being: the meritorious, the sinful, and the mixed — that is, sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic."

Verse 38 (skanda.1.84.38)

तत्र यः सात्त्विको नाम स स्वर्गं प्रतिपद्यते॥ स्वर्गात्कालपरिभ्रष्टो धनी धर्मी सुखी भवेत्

tatra yaḥ sāttviko nāma sa svargaṁ pratipadyate svargātkālaparibhraṣṭo dhanī dharmī sukhī bhavet

"Of these, one of sattvic nature attains heaven; and falling from heaven in due time, he is born wealthy, righteous, and happy."

Verse 39 (skanda.1.84.39)

तथा यस्तामसो नाम नरकं प्रतिपद्यते॥ भुक्त्वा बह्वीर्यातनाश्च स्थावरत्वं प्रपद्यते

tathā yastāmaso nāma narakaṁ pratipadyate bhuktvā bahvīryātanāśca sthāvaratvaṁ prapadyate

"Likewise, one of tamasic nature attains hell; having endured many torments there, he then descends into the state of an immobile being, such as a plant."

Verse 40 (skanda.1.84.40)

महतां दर्शनस्पर्शैरुपभोगसहासनैः॥ महता कालयोगेन संसरन्मानवो भवेत्

mahatāṁ darśanasparśairupabhogasahāsanaiḥ mahatā kālayogena saṁsaranmānavo bhavet

"Through the sight, touch, use, and company of great beings, and after a very long course of transmigration, he in time becomes human."

Verse 41 (skanda.1.84.41)

सोऽपि दुःखदरिद्राद्यैर्वेष्टितो विकलेंद्रियः॥ प्रत्यक्षः सर्व लोकानां पापस्यैतद्धि लक्षणम्

so'pi duḥkhadaridrādyairveṣṭito vikaleṁdriyaḥ pratyakṣaḥ sarva lokānāṁ pāpasyaitaddhi lakṣaṇam

"Even so, he remains beset by suffering, poverty, and the like, impaired in his senses, plainly visible to all the world — this indeed is the mark of sin."

Verse 42 (skanda.1.84.42)

अथ यो मिश्रकर्मा स्यात्तिर्यक्त्वं प्रतिपद्यते॥ महतामेव संसर्गात्संसरन्मानवो भवेत्

atha yo miśrakarmā syāttiryaktvaṁ pratipadyate mahatāmeva saṁsargātsaṁsaranmānavo bhavet

"And one whose karma is mixed attains the condition of an animal; yet through association with the great, in the course of transmigration, he becomes human."

Verse 43 (skanda.1.84.43)

यस्य पुण्यं पृथुतरं पापमल्पं हि जायते॥ स पूर्वं दुःखितो भूत्वा पश्चात्सौख्यान्वितो भवेत्

yasya puṇyaṁ pṛthutaraṁ pāpamalpaṁ hi jāyate sa pūrvaṁ duḥkhito bhūtvā paścātsaukhyānvito bhavet

"One whose merit is greater and whose sin is slight is first born into misery, and afterward comes to enjoy happiness."

Verse 44 (skanda.1.84.44)

पापं पृथुतरं यस्य पुण्यमल्पतरं भवेत्॥ पूर्वं सुखी ततो दुःखी मिश्रस्यैतद्धि लक्षणम्

pāpaṁ pṛthutaraṁ yasya puṇyamalpataraṁ bhavet pūrvaṁ sukhī tato duḥkhī miśrasyaitaddhi lakṣaṇam

"One whose sin is greater and whose merit is very slight is first happy and afterward unhappy — this indeed is the mark of the mixed."

Verse 45 (skanda.1.84.45)

तत्र मानुषसंभूतिं शृणु यादृगसौ भवेत्॥ पुरुषस्य स्त्रियाश्चैव शुक्रशोणितसंगमे

tatra mānuṣasaṁbhūtiṁ śṛṇu yādṛgasau bhavet puruṣasya striyāścaiva śukraśoṇitasaṁgame

"Now hear how a human birth comes to be, at the union of the man's seed and the woman's blood."

Verse 46 (skanda.1.84.46)

सर्वदोषविनिर्मुक्तो जीवः संसरते स्फुटम्॥ गुणान्वितमनोबुद्धिशुभाशुभसमन्वितः

sarvadoṣavinirmukto jīvaḥ saṁsarate sphuṭam guṇānvitamanobuddhiśubhāśubhasamanvitaḥ

"The soul, free of all outer taint, transmigrates plainly, endowed with a mind and intellect possessed of the gunas, and accompanied by its good and evil deeds."

Verse 47 (skanda.1.84.47)

जीवः प्रविष्टो गर्भं तु कलले प्रतितिष्ठति॥ मूढश्च कलले तत्र मासमात्रं च तिष्ठति

jīvaḥ praviṣṭo garbhaṁ tu kalale pratitiṣṭhati mūḍhaśca kalale tatra māsamātraṁ ca tiṣṭhati

"The soul, entering the womb, comes to rest in the kalala, the earliest embryonic state; and, bewildered, it remains there in the kalala for a full month."

Verse 48 (skanda.1.84.48)

द्वितीयं तु तथा मासं घनीभूतः स तिष्ठति॥ तस्यावयवनिर्माणं तृतीये मासि जायते

dvitīyaṁ tu tathā māsaṁ ghanībhūtaḥ sa tiṣṭhati tasyāvayavanirmāṇaṁ tṛtīye māsi jāyate

"In the second month it likewise remains there, now grown solid; the shaping of its limbs occurs in the third month."

Verse 49 (skanda.1.84.49)

अस्थीनि च तथा मासि जायंते च चतुर्थके॥ त्वग्जन्म पंचमे मासि पष्ठे रोम्णां समुद्भवः

asthīni ca tathā māsi jāyaṁte ca caturthake tvagjanma paṁcame māsi paṣṭhe romṇāṁ samudbhavaḥ

"Bones likewise form in the fourth month; the skin arises in the fifth month, and in the sixth, the body-hair comes forth."

Verse 50 (skanda.1.84.50)

सप्तमे च तथा मासि प्रबोधश्चास्य जायते॥ मातुराहारपीतं च सप्तमे मास्युपाश्नुते

saptame ca tathā māsi prabodhaścāsya jāyate māturāhārapītaṁ ca saptame māsyupāśnute

"And in the seventh month awareness arises within it; in that same seventh month it partakes of what its mother has eaten and drunk."

Verse 51 (skanda.1.84.51)

अष्टमे नवमे मासि भृशमुद्विजते ततः॥ जरायुणा वेष्टितांगो मुखे बद्धकरांगुलिः

aṣṭame navame māsi bhṛśamudvijate tataḥ jarāyuṇā veṣṭitāṁgo mukhe baddhakarāṁguliḥ

"In the eighth and ninth months it becomes greatly distressed, its limbs wrapped in the caul, its fingers pressed together before its face."

Verse 52 (skanda.1.84.52)

मध्ये क्लीबस्तु वामे स्त्री दक्षिणे पुरुषस्तथा॥ तिष्ठत्युदरभागे च पृष्ठेरग्निमुखः किल

madhye klībastu vāme strī dakṣiṇe puruṣastathā tiṣṭhatyudarabhāge ca pṛṣṭheragnimukhaḥ kila

"In the middle lies the neuter [child], on the left the female, and on the right the male, thus situated within the belly, with face turned toward the back, close by the digestive fire."

Verse 53 (skanda.1.84.53)

यस्यां तिष्ठत्यसौ योनौ तां च वेत्ति न संशयः॥ सर्वं स्मरति वृत्तांतं बहूनां जन्मनामपि

yasyāṁ tiṣṭhatyasau yonau tāṁ ca vetti na saṁśayaḥ sarvaṁ smarati vṛttāṁtaṁ bahūnāṁ janmanāmapi

"It knows, without doubt, even the womb in which it dwells, and it remembers the entire account of its many past births."

Verse 54 (skanda.1.84.54)

अंधे तमसि किं दृश्यो गंधान्मोहं दृढं लभेत्॥ शीते मात्रा जले पीते शीतमुष्णं तथोष्णके

aṁdhe tamasi kiṁ dṛśyo gaṁdhānmohaṁ dṛḍhaṁ labhet śīte mātrā jale pīte śītamuṣṇaṁ tathoṣṇake

"In that blind darkness, what indeed is there to see? From odors it falls into deep bewilderment; when its mother drinks cold water it feels cold, and heat when she drinks something hot."

Verse 55 (skanda.1.84.55)

व्यायामे लभते मातुः क्लेशं व्याधेश्च वेदनाम्॥ अलक्ष्याः पितृमातृभ्यां जायंते व्याधयः पराः

vyāyāme labhate mātuḥ kleśaṁ vyādheśca vedanām alakṣyāḥ pitṛmātṛbhyāṁ jāyaṁte vyādhayaḥ parāḥ

"From its mother's exertion it suffers distress and the pain of sickness; and further ailments arise from the parents, unnoticed by them."

Verse 56 (skanda.1.84.56)

सौकुमार्याद्रुजं तीव्रां जनयंति च तस्य ते॥ स्वल्पमप्यथ तं कालं वेत्ति वर्षशतोपमम्

saukumāryādrujaṁ tīvrāṁ janayaṁti ca tasya te svalpamapyatha taṁ kālaṁ vetti varṣaśatopamam

"Because of its tenderness, these afflictions cause it intense pain; and it experiences even a brief span of that time as equal to a hundred years."

Verse 57 (skanda.1.84.57)

संतप्यते भृशं गर्भे कर्मभिश्च पुरातनैः॥ मनोरथांश्च कुरुते सुकृतार्थं पुनःपुनः

saṁtapyate bhṛśaṁ garbhe karmabhiśca purātanaiḥ manorathāṁśca kurute sukṛtārthaṁ punaḥpunaḥ

"In the womb it is sorely tormented by its deeds from former lives, and again and again it forms resolutions to act righteously."

Verse 58 (skanda.1.84.58)

जन्म चेदहमाप्स्यामि मानुष्ये जीवितं तथा॥ ततस्तत्प्रकरिष्यामि येन मोक्षो भवेत्स्फुटम्

janma cedahamāpsyāmi mānuṣye jīvitaṁ tathā tatastatprakariṣyāmi yena mokṣo bhavetsphuṭam

"'If I attain birth and life as a human, then I shall act in such a way that liberation clearly follows.'"

Verse 59 (skanda.1.84.59)

एवं तु चिंतयानस्य सीमंतोन्नयनादनु॥ मासद्वयं तद्व्रजति पीडतस्त्रियुगाकृति

evaṁ tu ciṁtayānasya sīmaṁtonnayanādanu māsadvayaṁ tadvrajati pīḍatastriyugākṛti

"Thus reflecting, after the rite of sīmantonnayana, two further months pass for it in this affliction, until it takes on its complete bodily form."

Verse 60 (skanda.1.84.60)

ततः स्वकाले संपूर्णे सूतिमारुतचालितः॥ भवत्यवाङ्मुखो जंतुः पीडामनुभवन्पराम्

tataḥ svakāle saṁpūrṇe sūtimārutacālitaḥ bhavatyavāṅmukho jaṁtuḥ pīḍāmanubhavanparām

"Then, when its time is complete, driven by the winds of childbirth, the being turns face downward, undergoing extreme pain."

Verse 61 (skanda.1.84.61)

अधोमुखः संकटेन योनिद्वारेण निःसरेत्॥ पीडया पीडमानोऽपि चर्मोत्कर्तनतुल्यया

adhomukhaḥ saṁkaṭena yonidvāreṇa niḥsaret pīḍayā pīḍamāno'pi carmotkartanatulyayā

"Head foremost, it forces its way out through the narrow passage of the womb, suffering a pain like the flaying of its skin."

Verse 62 (skanda.1.84.62)

करपत्रसमस्पर्शं करसंस्पर्शनादिकम्॥ असौ जातो विजानाति मासमात्रं विमोहितः

karapatrasamasparśaṁ karasaṁsparśanādikam asau jāto vijānāti māsamātraṁ vimohitaḥ

"Once born, it remains bewildered for a full month, perceiving the touch of hands and the like as though touched by the teeth of a saw."

Verse 63 (skanda.1.84.63)

प्राक्कर्मवशगस्यास्य गर्भज्ञानं च नश्यति॥ ततः करोति कर्माणि श्वेतरक्तासितानि च

prākkarmavaśagasyāsya garbhajñānaṁ ca naśyati tataḥ karoti karmāṇi śvetaraktāsitāni ca

"Coming under the sway of its former karma, its memory of the womb is then lost; thereafter it goes on to perform deeds — white, red, and black alike."

Verse 64 (skanda.1.84.64)

अस्थिपट्टतुलास्तंभस्नायुबंधेन यंत्रितम्॥ रक्तमांसमृदालिप्तं विण्मूत्रद्रव्यभाजनम्

asthipaṭṭatulāstaṁbhasnāyubaṁdhena yaṁtritam raktamāṁsamṛdāliptaṁ viṇmūtradravyabhājanam

"This body, bound together by sinews like beams, crossbars, and pillars of bone, plastered with the clay of flesh and blood, is a mere vessel for excrement and urine."

Verse 65 (skanda.1.84.65)

सप्तभित्तिसुसंबद्धं छन्नं रोम तृणैरपि॥ वदनैकमहाद्वारं गवाक्षाष्टविभूषितम्

saptabhittisusaṁbaddhaṁ channaṁ roma tṛṇairapi vadanaikamahādvāraṁ gavākṣāṣṭavibhūṣitam

"It is firmly bound by seven walls, thatched even with the straw of its body-hair, having a single great door — the mouth — and adorned with eight windows, the openings of the senses."

Verse 66 (skanda.1.84.66)

ओष्ठद्वयकपाटं च दंतार्गलविमुद्रितम्॥ नाडीस्वेदप्रवाहं च कफपित्तपरिप्लुतम्

oṣṭhadvayakapāṭaṁ ca daṁtārgalavimudritam nāḍīsvedapravāhaṁ ca kaphapittapariplutam

"With its two lips as shutters, bolted shut by the teeth; its channels flowing with sweat, and it lies awash with phlegm and bile."

Verse 67 (skanda.1.84.67)

जराशोकसमाविष्टं कालवक्त्रानलस्थितम्॥ रागद्वेषादिभिर्ध्वस्तं षट्कौशिकसमुद्भवम्

jarāśokasamāviṣṭaṁ kālavaktrānalasthitam rāgadveṣādibhirdhvastaṁ ṣaṭkauśikasamudbhavam

"It is pervaded by old age and grief, ever set within the fire of Time's devouring mouth, worn down by passion, hatred, and the rest — arisen from the six constituent sheaths of the body."

Verse 68 (skanda.1.84.68)

एवं संजायते पुंसो देहगेहमिदं द्विज॥ यस्मिन्वसति क्षेत्रज्ञो गृहस्थो बुद्धिगेहिनी

evaṁ saṁjāyate puṁso dehagehamidaṁ dvija yasminvasati kṣetrajño gṛhastho buddhigehinī

"Thus, O brahmin, this house of the body comes into being for a man, wherein the Kshetrajna, the knower of the field, dwells as its householder, with the intellect as his housewife."

Verse 69 (skanda.1.84.69)

मोक्षं स्वर्गं च नरकमास्ते संसाधयन्नपि

mokṣaṁ svargaṁ ca narakamāste saṁsādhayannapi

"Even while dwelling there, it continues, according to its deeds, to bring about for itself liberation, heaven, or hell."