Garuda Purana

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.

मासद्वये तु सञ्जाते त्वचा मेदश्च जायते । मज्जास्थीनि त्रिभिर्मासैः केशाङ्गुल्यश्चतुर्थके ॥ २,३२.

After two months have passed, the skin and fat are formed; in the third month, marrow and bones arise, and in the fourth, hair and nails.

कर्णौ च नासिके वक्षो जायेरन्मासि पञ्चमे । कण्ठरन्ध्रोदरं षष्ठे गुह्यादिर्मासि सप्तमे ॥ २,३२.

In the fifth month, the ears, nostrils, and chest are formed; in the sixth, the throat, cavities, and abdomen; in the seventh, the genital and other organs.

अङ्गप्रत्यङ्गसम्पूर्णो गर्भो मासैरथाष्टभिः । अष्टमे चलते जीवो धात्रीगर्भे पुनः पुनः । नवमेमासि सम्प्राप्ते गर्भस्थौजौ दृढं भवेत् ॥ २,३२.

By eight months, the embryo is complete in all limbs and parts; in the eighth month, the soul moves repeatedly within the womb; when the ninth month arrives, the strength of the embryo becomes firm.

चिकित्सा जायते तस्य गर्भवासपरिक्षये । नारी वाथ नरो वाथ नपुंस्त्वं वाभिजायते ॥ २,३२.

When the period of gestation is completed, birth occurs; then, a woman, a man, or a neuter is born.

शक्तित्रयं विशालाक्षं षाट्कौशिकसमायुतम् । पञ्चेन्द्रियसमोपेतं दशनाडीविभूषितम् ॥ २,३२.

Possessed of three powers, with wide eyes, endowed with six sheaths, equipped with the five senses, and adorned with ten channels.

दशप्राणगुणोपेतं यो जानाति स योगवित् । मज्जास्थिशुक्रमांसानि रोम रक्तं बलं तथा ॥ २,३२.

Endowed with the ten vital airs—he who knows this is a knower of yoga—marrow, bone, semen, flesh, hair, blood, and strength as well.

षाट्कौशिकमिदं पिण्डं स्याज्जन्तोः पाञ्चभौतिकम् । नवमे दशमे मासि जायते पाञ्चभौतिकः ॥ २,३२.

This mass with six sheaths is composed of the five elements; in the ninth or tenth month, the being composed of the five elements is born.

सूतिवातैः समाकृष्टः पीडया विह्वलीकृतः । पुष्टो नाड्याः सुषुम्णाया योषिद्गर्भस्थितस्त्वरन् ॥ २,३२.

Drawn by the winds of birth, tormented by pain, nourished by the central channel, the one dwelling in the womb of a woman hastens forth.

thumb|पञ्चमहाभूतानि क्षितिर्वारि हविर्भोक्ता पवनाकाशमेव च । एभिर्भूतैः पीडितस्तु निबद्धः स्नायुबन्धनैः ॥ २,३२.

Earth, water, fire, air, and space—these five great elements—afflict him, bound by the ligaments of sinews.

मूलभूता इमे प्रोक्ताः सप्त नाड्यन्तरे स्थिताः । त्वचास्थिनाड्यो रोमाणि मांसञ्चैवात्र पञ्चमम् ॥ २,३२.

These are called the seven root elements, situated within the channels: skin, bone, hair, flesh, and the fifth is also here.