संप्रगृह्य कराग्रेण जगामादर्शनं हरिः
Hari, grasping him by the hand, disappeared from sight.
श्वेतद्वीपमथासाद्य प्राह देवो मुनिं नृप
Having reached Shvetadwipa, the god spoke to the sage, O king.
माया ययेदृशी माया यत्स्वरूपा यदात्मिका
What is this maya, what is its nature, and what is its essence?
एवमुक्त्वा मुनिवरं देवदेवो जनार्दनः
Having spoken thus to the great sage, Janardana, lord of the gods,
संसारदोषवर्णनम् प्राप्नोति पुरुषः केन गर्भवासं सुदारुणम्
Description of the faults of worldly existence: By what cause does a person attain the harsh abode of the womb?
गर्भस्थश्च किमश्नाति कथमुत्पद्यते पुनः
What does one eat while in the womb, and how is one born again?
बालभावे कथं पुष्टिः स्याद्युवा केन कर्मणा
How does nourishment occur in childhood, and by what action does one become youthful?
कथं दारानवाप्नोति गृहं सर्वगुणैर्युतम्
How does one obtain a spouse and a house endowed with all virtues?
कथं सुखेन म्रियते कथं भुंक्ते शुभाशुभम्
How does one die happily, and how does one enjoy good and bad?
अशुभैः कर्मभिर्ज्जंतुस्तिर्यग्योनिषु जायते
By evil deeds, a creature is born in animal wombs.
प्रमाणं श्रुतिरेवात्र धर्माधर्मविनिश्चये
In matters of determining righteousness and unrighteousness, scripture alone is the authority.
ऋतुकाले तदा भुक्तं निर्दोषं येन संस्थितम्
That which is enjoyed at the proper time is faultless, by whomsoever it is established.
विसर्गकाले शुक्रस्य जीवः करणसंयुतः
At the time of emission, the soul, accompanied by the senses, enters the semen.
तच्छुक्ररक्तमेकस्थमेकाहात्कललं भवेत् 4.4.
When semen and blood unite in one place, within one day, it becomes a lump.
बुद्बुदं सप्तरात्रेण मांसपेशी भवेत्ततः
In seven nights, that lump becomes a bubble, and then a mass of flesh.
बीजस्येवांकुराः पेश्याः पञ्चविंश तिरात्रतः
Just as sprouts arise from a seed, so do flesh masses emerge in twenty-five nights.
ग्रीवा शिरश्च स्कन्धश्च पृष्ठवंशस्तथोदरम्
The neck, head, shoulders, spinal column, and abdomen are formed.
त्रिभिर्मासैः प्रजायंते सद्रव्यांकुरसंधयः
In three months, the joints of the sprouting substances are produced.
मुखं नासा च कर्णौ च जायन्ते पञ्च मासकैः
The mouth, nose, and ears are formed in five months.
कर्णौ च रंध्रसहितौ षण्मासाभ्यंतरेण तु
The ears, together with their openings, are formed within six months.
संधयो ये च गात्रेषु मासैर्जायंति सप्तभिः
The joints in the limbs are formed in seven months.
विभक्तावयवः पुष्टः पुनर्मासाष्टकेन च
With eight months, the body becomes well-developed and its parts are distinct.
मातुराहारवीर्येण षड्विधेन स तिष्ठति
He remains sustained by the sixfold strength of the mother's food.
तत्तेऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि यथाश्रुतमरिंदम 4.4.
I shall now tell you, O destroyer of foes, exactly as heard.
ततः स्मृतिं लभेज्जीवः संपूर्णेऽस्मिञ्छरीरके
Then, when the body is complete, the soul attains memory.
मृतश्चाहं पुनर्जातो जातश्चाहं पुनर्मृतः
I have died and been born again; I have been born and died again.
अधुना जातमात्रोऽहं प्राप्तसंस्कार एव च
Now, I am newly born and have attained the proper rites.
गर्भस्थश्चिंतये देवमहं गर्भाद्विनिःसृतः
While dwelling in the womb, I contemplate the deity; having emerged from the womb, I do so as well.
एवं स गर्भदुःखेन महता परिपीडितः
Thus, he is greatly tormented by the suffering of the womb.
यथा गिरिवराक्रांतः कश्चिद्दुःखेन तिष्ठति
Just as someone stands in pain, pressed down by a great mountain,