Garuda Purana

एतद्गुणसमायुक्तं शरीरं सर्वदेहिनाम् । तिष्ठन्ति देवताः सर्वा भुवनानि चतुर्दश ॥ २,३१.

This body, endowed with such qualities, is possessed by all embodied beings; within it dwell all the deities and the fourteen worlds.

आत्मानं ये न जानन्ति ते नराः पशवः स्मृताः । एवमेतन्मयाख्यातं शरीरं ते चतुर्विधम् ॥ २,३१.

Those men who do not know their own self are considered animals; thus I have explained to you the fourfold nature of the body.

चतुरशीतिलक्षाणि निर्मिता योनयः पुरा । उद्भिज्जाः स्वेदजाश्चैव अण्डजाश्च जरायुजाः ॥ २,३१.

Eighty-four hundred thousand wombs were created in ancient times: those born from eggs, sweat, seeds, and live birth.

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोहं त्वयानघ ॥ २,३१.

All this, O sinless one, which you have asked, I have told you.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ३२ तार्क्ष्य उवाच । कथमुत्पद्यते जन्तुर्भूतग्रामे चतुर्विधे । त्वचा रक्तं तथा मांसं मेदो मज्जास्थि जीवितम् ॥ २,३२.

Tārkṣya said: How does a living being arise among the fourfold groups of beings? Skin, blood, flesh, fat, marrow, bone, and life.

पादौ पाणी तथा गुह्यं जिह्वाकेशनखाः शिरः । सन्धिमार्गाश्च बहुशो रेखा नैकविधास्तथा ॥ २,३२.

Feet, hands, the secret organ, tongue, hair, nails, head, the many joints and pathways, and the various lines as well.

कामः क्रोधो भयं लज्जा मनो हर्षः सुखासुखम् । चित्रितं छिद्रितञ्चापि नानाजालेन वेष्टितम् ॥ २,३२.

Desire, anger, fear, shame, mind, joy, pleasure and pain, all are marked and pierced, enveloped in a web of many kinds.

इन्द्रजालमिदं मन्ये संसारेऽसारसागरे । कर्ता कोऽत्र हृषीकेश संसारे दुः खसंकुले ॥ २,३२.

I consider this to be a magic illusion in the ocean of meaningless existence; who is the doer here, O Hṛṣīkeśa, in this world full of suffering?

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । कथयामि परं गोप्यं कोशस्यास्य विनिर्णयम् । यस्य विज्ञानमात्रेण सर्वज्ञत्वं प्रज्यते ॥ २,३२.

Śrī Viṣṇu said: I will tell you the supreme secret, the determination of this sheath, by knowing which alone omniscience is attained.

साधु पृष्टं त्वया लोके सदयं जीवकारणम् । वैनतेय शृणुष्व त्वमेकाग्रकृतमानसः ॥ २,३२.

Well have you asked, for the sake of living beings in the world, O Vainateya; listen with a mind made single-pointed.

ऋतुकाले च नारीणां वर्ज्यं दिनचतुष्टयम् । यतस्तस्मिन् ब्रह्महत्यां पुरा वृत्रसमुत्थिताम् ॥ २,३२.

In women, during their season, four days are to be avoided, for on those days the sin of Brahmin-killing, which arose long ago from Vṛtra, is present.

ब्रह्मा शक्रात्समुत्तार्य चतुर्थांशेन दत्तवान् । तावन्नालोक्यते वक्त्रं पापं यावद्वपुः स्थितम् ॥ २,३२.

Brahmā, having rescued (the soul) from Indra, gave a fourth part; the face is not seen as long as the body remains impure with sin.

प्रथमेऽहनि चाण्डाली द्वितीये ब्रह्मघातिनी । तृतीये रजकी ज्ञेया चतुर्थेऽहनि शुध्यति ॥ २,३२.

On the first day, she is considered a Chandālī; on the second, a Brahmin-killer; on the third, she is to be known as a washerwoman; on the fourth day, she becomes purified.

सप्ताहात्पितृदेवानां भवेद्योग्या कृतार्चने । सप्ताहमध्ये यो गर्भस्तत्संम्भूतिर्मलिम्लुचा ॥ २,३२.

After seven nights, a woman becomes fit to worship the ancestors and gods; if conception occurs within seven nights, the resulting birth is from a woman who is impure.

निषेकसमये पित्रोर्यादृक्चित्तविकल्पना । तादृग्गर्भसमुत्पत्तिर्जायते नात्र संशयः ॥ २,३२.

At the time of conception, whatever thoughts and intentions are present in the minds of the parents, such is the nature of the embryo that arises—of this there is no doubt.

युग्मासु पुत्त्रा जायन्ते स्त्रियोऽयुग्मासु रात्रिषु । पूर्वसप्तममुत्सृज्य तस्माद्युग्मासु संविशेत् ॥ २,३२.

Sons are born on even nights, and daughters on odd nights; therefore, after the first seven, one should approach on even nights.

षोडशर्तुर्निशाः स्त्रीणां सामान्यात्समुदाहृतः । या चतुर्दशमी रात्रिर्गर्भस्तिष्ठति तत्र चेत् ॥ २,३२.

It is declared that, in general, there are sixteen nights for women; if conception occurs on the fourteenth night, then—

गुणभाग्यनिधिः पुत्रस्तत्र जायेत धार्मिकः । सा निशा तत्र सामान्यैर्न लभ्येत खगाधिप ॥ २,३२.

—there a son is born who is a treasure of virtues and good fortune, and righteous; but, O Lord of Birds, that night is not easily obtained by ordinary means.

प्रायशः सम्भवत्यत्र गर्भस्त्वष्टाहमध्यतः । पञ्चमेऽहनि नारीणां कार्यं माधुर्यभोजनम् ॥ २,३२.

Generally, conception occurs in the middle of the eighth night; on the fifth day, women should partake of sweet foods.

कटुक्षारञ्च तीक्ष्णञ्च त्याज्यमुष्णञ्च दूरतः । तत्क्षेत्रमोषधीपात्रं बीजञ्चाप्यमृतायितम् ॥ २,३२.

Bitter, salty, pungent, and hot foods should be avoided from a distance; the field (body), medicinal vessel, and seed should all be made like nectar.

तस्मिन्नुप्त्वा नरः स्वामी सम्यक्फलमवाप्नुयात् । तस्याश्चैवातपो वर्ज्य शीतलं केवलं चरेत् ॥ २,३२.

If a man sows (seed) in this way, he will obtain the proper result; and for her, exposure to heat should be avoided—she should remain only in coolness.

ताम्बूलपुष्पश्रीखण्डैः संयुक्तः शुचिवस्त्रभृत् । धर्ममादाय मनसि सुतल्पं संविशेत्पुमान् ॥ २,३२.

Adorned with betel, flowers, and sandalwood, wearing clean garments, holding dharma in mind, a man should approach a good bed.

निषेकसमये यादृङ्नरचित्तविकल्पना । तादृक्स्वभावसम्भूतिर्जन्तुर्विशति कुक्षिगः ॥ २,३२.

At the time of conception, whatever thoughts and intentions are present in the man's mind, such is the nature with which the being enters the womb.

शुक्रशोणितसंयोगे पिण्डोत्पत्तिः प्रजायते । वर्धते जठरे जन्तुस्तारापतिरिवाम्बरे ॥ २,३२.

With the union of semen and blood, an embryo is produced; the creature grows in the womb like the lord of stars in the sky.

चैतन्यं बीजरूपं हि शुक्रे नित्यं व्यवस्थितम् । कामश्चित्तञ्च शुक्रञ्च यदा ह्येकत्वमाप्नुयुः ॥ २,३२.

Consciousness, in the form of a seed, is always established in the semen; when desire, mind, and semen become united—

तदा द्रावमवाप्नोति योषागर्भाशये नरः । रक्ताधिक्ये भवेन्नारी शुक्राधिक्ये भवेत्पुमान् ॥ २,३२.

—then, in the womb of the woman, the man attains a liquid state; if blood predominates, a female is born; if semen predominates, a male is born.

शुक्रशोणितयो साम्ये गर्भाः षण्डत्वमाप्नुयुः । अहोरात्रेण कलिलं बुद्वदं पञ्चभिर्दिनैः ॥ २,३२.

If semen and blood are equal, the embryo becomes neuter; in one day and night, it becomes a lump, and in five days, it becomes bud-like.

चतुर्दशे भवेन्मांसं मिश्रधातुसमन्वितम् । घनं मांसञ्च विंशाहे गर्भस्थो वर्धते क्रमात् ॥ २,३२.

On the fourteenth day, flesh arises, mixed with other elements; on the twentieth day, the solid flesh in the womb grows gradually.

पञ्चविंशतिमे चाह्नि बलं पुष्टिश्च जायते । तथा मासे तु सम्पूर्णे पञ्चतत्त्वं निधारयेत् ॥ २,३२.

On the twenty-fifth day, strength and nourishment arise; and when a month is complete, the five elements are established.