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,
पतितः सागरे यद्वद्दुःखैरास्ते समाकुल.
Or as one fallen into the ocean remains overwhelmed by sorrows,
लोहकुंभे यथा न्यस्तः पच्यते कश्चिदग्निना
Or as someone placed in an iron pot is cooked by fire,
सूचीभिरग्निवर्णाभिर्विभिन्नस्य निरंतरम्
And as one constantly pierced by needles glowing like fire,
गर्भवासात्परो वासः कष्टो नैवास्ति कुत्रचित् 4.4.
There is no dwelling more painful anywhere than the womb.
इत्येतद्गर्भदुःख हि प्राणिनां परिकीर्तितम्
Thus, the suffering of the womb for living beings has been described.
गर्भात्कोटिगुणं दुःखं योनियंत्रप्रपीडनात्
The pain from the pressure of the birth passage is ten million times greater than that of the womb.
शरवत्पीड्यमानस्य यंत्रेणेव समंततः
As one is tormented by arrows, so is he pressed on all sides by the birth passage.
यंत्रेण पीडिता यद्वन्निःसाराः स्युस्तिलेक्षवः
Just as sesame seeds are crushed and their essence removed by a press,
अस्थिमज्जात्वचामांसस्नायुबंधेन यंत्रितम्
So, bound by bones, marrow, skin, flesh, and sinews, he is constrained.
केशलोमतृणाच्छन्नं रोगायतनमातुरम्
Covered by hair, body hair, and grass, it is a seat of disease and suffering.