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.
ओष्ठद्वयकपाटं च दन्तजिह्वार्गलान्वितम्
With the two lips as doors, furnished with teeth, tongue, and palate,
जराशोकसमाविष्टं कालचक्रानले स्थितम्
Afflicted by old age and sorrow, situated in the fire of the wheel of time,
भोगतृष्णातुरं मूढं रागद्वेषवशानुगम् 4.4.
Tormented by the thirst for enjoyment, deluded, following the sway of passion and hatred.
संकटेनाविविक्तेन योनिद्वारेण निर्गतम्
Having emerged through the narrow, confined birth passage,
इति देहगृहं प्रोक्तं नित्यस्यानित्यमा त्मनः
Thus, this body-house is said to be impermanent for the eternal self.
शुक्रशोणितसंयोगाद्देहः संजायते यतः
Because the body is produced from the union of semen and blood.
यथांतर्विष्ठया पूर्णः शुचिः स्यान्न बहिर्घटः
Just as a pot is not pure on the outside if it is filled with impurity within,
संप्राप्यात्र पवित्राणि पंचग व्यहवींषि च
So too, even after obtaining purifying substances and the five sacred offerings here,
देहः संशोध्यमानोऽपि पञ्चगव्यकुशांबुभिः
Even when the body is cleansed with pañcagavya, kuśa grass, and water,
स्रोतांसि यस्य सततं प्रवहंति गिरेरिव
If its channels constantly flow, as streams from a mountain,
सर्वाशुचिनिधानस्य शरीरस्य न विद्यते
There is no purity for a body that is the repository of all impurities.
कायः सुगंधधूपाद्यैर्यत्नेनापि तु संस्कृतः
Even if the body is carefully treated with fragrant incense and the like,
यथा जात्यैव कृष्णो हि न शुक्लः स्यादुपायतः 4.4.
Just as one who is black by birth cannot become white by any means,
जिघ्रन्नपि स्वदुर्गंधं पश्यन्नपि मलं स्वकम्
Even while smelling his own foul odor and seeing his own filth,
अहो मोहस्य माहात्म्यं येन व्यामोहितं जगत्
Ah, such is the greatness of delusion, by which the world is bewildered.
एवमेतच्छरीरं हि निसर्गादशुचि ध्रुवम्
Thus, this body is certainly impure by its very nature.
गर्भस्थस्य स्मृतिर्यासीत्सा जातस्य प्रणश्यति
The memory that existed in the womb is lost after birth.
बाह्येन वायुना चास्य मोहसंज्ञेन देहिनः
And by the external air, called delusion, of the embodied being,
तेन ज्वरेण महता महामोहः प्रजायते
From that great fever arises a great delusion.
स्मृतिभ्रंशात्तु तस्येह पूर्वकर्मवशेन च
Due to the loss of memory here, and because of previous actions,