Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 3 — Chapter 31
SB 3 31.1
श्री-भगवान् उवाच कर्मणा दैव-नेत्रेण जन्तुर् देहोपपत्तये स्त्रियाः प्रविष्ट उदरं पुंसो रेतः-कणाश्रयः
śrī-bhagavān uvāca karmaṇā daiva-netreṇa jantur dehopapattaye striyāḥ praviṣṭa udaraṃ puṃso retaḥ-kaṇāśrayaḥ
The Blessed Lord said: By action, with fate as its guide, the living being, in order to obtain a body, enters the womb of a woman, lodged in a drop of a man's semen.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.2
कललं त्व् एक-रात्रेण पञ्च-रात्रेण बुद्बुदम् दशाहेन तु कर्कन्धूः पेश्य् अण्डं वा ततः परम्
kalalaṃ tv eka-rātreṇa pañca-rātreṇa budbudam daśāhena tu karkandhūḥ peśy aṇḍaṃ vā tataḥ param
In one night it becomes a kalala (a mixed mass); in five nights a bubble; but in ten days a lump like a jujube fruit; thereafter a piece of flesh, or an egg-like (mass).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.3
मासेन तु शिरो द्वाभ्यां बाह्व्-अङ्घ्र्य्-आद्य्-अङ्ग-विग्रहः नख-लोमास्थि-चर्माणि लिङ्ग-च्छिद्रोद्भवस् त्रिभिः
māsena tu śiro dvābhyāṃ bāhv-aṅghry-ādy-aṅga-vigrahaḥ nakha-lomāsthi-carmāṇi liṅga-cchidrodbhavas tribhiḥ
In a month, the head; in two, the formation of parts, arms, feet and the rest; in three, the nails, hair, bones and skin, and the appearance of the genitals and the (bodily) openings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.4
चतुर्भिर् धातवः सप्त पञ्चभिः क्षुत्-तृड्-उद्भवः षड्भिर् जरायुणा वीतः कुक्षौ भ्राम्यति दक्षिणे
caturbhir dhātavaḥ sapta pañcabhiḥ kṣut-tṛḍ-udbhavaḥ ṣaḍbhir jarāyuṇā vītaḥ kukṣau bhrāmyati dakṣiṇe
In four, the seven bodily constituents; in five, the arising of hunger and thirst; in six, enveloped by the amnion, it moves about in the right side of the belly.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.5
मातुर् जग्धान्न-पानाद्यैर् एधद्-धातुर् असम्मते शेते विण्-मूत्रयोर् गर्ते स जन्तुर् जन्तु-सम्भवे
mātur jagdhānna-pānādyair edhad-dhātur asammate śete viṇ-mūtrayor garte sa jantur jantu-sambhave
Its bodily elements growing by the food and drink and the rest consumed by the mother, that creature lies in the loathsome pit of feces and urine, a breeding-ground of worms.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.6
कृमिभिः क्षत-सर्वाङ्गः सौकुमार्यात् प्रतिक्षणम् मूर्च्छाम् आप्नोत्य् उरु-क्लेशस् तत्रत्यैः क्षुधितैर् मुहुः
kṛmibhiḥ kṣata-sarvāṅgaḥ saukumāryāt pratikṣaṇam mūrcchām āpnoty uru-kleśas tatratyaiḥ kṣudhitair muhuḥ
All its limbs bitten by the worms, because of its tenderness it faints at every moment, greatly tormented again and again by the hungry ones that live there.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.7
कटु-तीक्ष्णोष्ण-लवण- रूक्षाम्लादिभिर् उल्बणैः मातृ-भुक्तैर् उपस्पृष्टः सर्वाङ्गोत्थित-वेदनः
kaṭu-tīkṣṇoṣṇa-lavaṇa- rūkṣāmlādibhir ulbaṇaiḥ mātṛ-bhuktair upaspṛṣṭaḥ sarvāṅgotthita-vedanaḥ
Touched by the pungent, sharp, hot, salty, dry, sour and other excessively strong things eaten by the mother, it has pain arising in all its limbs.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.8
उल्बेन संवृतस् तस्मिन्न् अन्त्रैश् च बहिर् आवृतः आस्ते कृत्वा शिरः कुक्षौ भुग्न-पृष्ठ-शिरोधरः
ulbena saṃvṛtas tasminn antraiś ca bahir āvṛtaḥ āste kṛtvā śiraḥ kukṣau bhugna-pṛṣṭha-śirodharaḥ
Wrapped in the amniotic membrane and covered outside by the intestines, it remains there with its head placed toward the belly, its back and neck bent.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.9
अकल्पः स्वाङ्ग-चेष्टायां शकुन्त इव पञ्जरे तत्र लब्ध-स्मृतिर् दैवात् कर्म जन्म-शतोद्भवम् स्मरन् दीर्घम् अनुच्छ्वासं शर्म किं नाम विन्दते
akalpaḥ svāṅga-ceṣṭāyāṃ śakunta iva pañjare tatra labdha-smṛtir daivāt karma janma-śatodbhavam smaran dīrgham anucchvāsaṃ śarma kiṃ nāma vindate
Incapable of moving its own limbs, like a bird in a cage, there, having by fate regained memory and recalling the karma arising over a hundred births, breathing not at all for a long while — what comfort indeed can it find?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.10
आरभ्य सप्तमान् मासाल् लब्ध-बोधो ऽपि वेपितः नैकत्रास्ते सूति-वातैर् विष्ठा-भूर् इव सोदरः
ārabhya saptamān māsāl labdha-bodho 'pi vepitaḥ naikatrāste sūti-vātair viṣṭhā-bhūr iva sodaraḥ
From the seventh month onward, though it has gained awareness, it is shaken about; it does not stay in one place, driven by the winds of birth, like the filth-born (worm) within the belly.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 3 31.11
नाथमान ऋषिर् भीतः सप्त-वध्रिः कृताञ्जलिः स्तुवीत तं विक्लवया वाचा येनोदरे ऽर्पितः
nāthamāna ṛṣir bhītaḥ sapta-vadhriḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ stuvīta taṃ viklavayā vācā yenodare 'rpitaḥ
Praying, frightened, bound in seven (fetters), the seer with joined palms would praise, with faltering voice, him by whom he was placed in the womb.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.12
जन्तुर् उवाच तस्योपसन्नम् अवितुं जगद् इच्छयात्त- नाना-तनोर् भुवि चलच्-चरणारविन्दम् तस्योपसन्नम् अवितुं जगद् इच्छयात्त- नाना-तनोर् भुवि चलच्-चरणारविन्दम् सो ऽहं व्रजामि शरणं ह्य् अकुतो-भयं मे येनेदृशी गतिर् अदर्श्य् असतो ऽनुरूपा
jantur uvāca tasyopasannam avituṃ jagad icchayātta- nānā-tanor bhuvi calac-caraṇāravindam tasyopasannam avituṃ jagad icchayātta- nānā-tanor bhuvi calac-caraṇāravindam so 'haṃ vrajāmi śaraṇaṃ hy akuto-bhayaṃ me yenedṛśī gatir adarśy asato 'nurūpā
The creature said: The moving lotus feet of him who, to protect the world, has by his own will taken on various bodies on the earth — feet approached (for refuge) — to that refuge, free of fear from every quarter, do I go, by whom such a destiny, fitting for one who is unreal, has been shown to me.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 3 31.13
यस् त्व् अत्र बद्ध इव कर्मभिर् आवृतात्मा भूतेन्द्रियाशयमयीम् अवलम्ब्य मायाम् यस् त्व् अत्र बद्ध इव कर्मभिर् आवृतात्मा भूतेन्द्रियाशयमयीम् अवलम्ब्य मायाम् आस्ते विशुद्धम् अविकारम् अखण्ड-बोधम् आतप्यमान-हृदये ऽवसितं नमामि
yas tv atra baddha iva karmabhir āvṛtātmā bhūtendriyāśayamayīm avalambya māyām yas tv atra baddha iva karmabhir āvṛtātmā bhūtendriyāśayamayīm avalambya māyām āste viśuddham avikāram akhaṇḍa-bodham ātapyamāna-hṛdaye 'vasitaṃ namāmi
But he who here, as though bound by works, his self covered over, having taken recourse to māyā made of the elements, the senses and the mind — while he yet abides pure, unchanging, undivided awareness — to him, present within my burning heart, I bow.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.14
यः पञ्च-भूत-रचिते रहितः शरीरे च्छन्नो ऽयथेन्द्रिय-गुणार्थ-चिद्-आत्मको ऽहम् यः पञ्च-भूत-रचिते रहितः शरीरे च्छन्नो ऽयथेन्द्रिय-गुणार्थ-चिद्-आत्मको ऽहम् तेनाविकुण्ठ-महिमानम् ऋषिं तम् एनं वन्दे परं प्रकृति-पूरुषयोः पुमांसम्
yaḥ pañca-bhūta-racite rahitaḥ śarīre cchanno 'yathendriya-guṇārtha-cid-ātmako 'ham yaḥ pañca-bhūta-racite rahitaḥ śarīre cchanno 'yathendriya-guṇārtha-cid-ātmako 'ham tenāvikuṇṭha-mahimānam ṛṣiṃ tam enaṃ vande paraṃ prakṛti-pūruṣayoḥ pumāṃsam
He who is (in truth) apart, though concealed in this body built of the five elements, while I take myself to be, wrongly, made of the senses, the qualities, their objects and consciousness — by that (very concealment?) I salute this seer of unobstructed greatness, the Person beyond both prakṛti and puruṣa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 3 31.15
यन्-माययोरु-गुण-कर्म-निबन्धने ऽस्मिन् सांसारिके पथि चरंस् तद्-अभिश्रमेण यन्-माययोरु-गुण-कर्म-निबन्धने ऽस्मिन् सांसारिके पथि चरंस् तद्-अभिश्रमेण नष्ट-स्मृतिः पुनर् अयं प्रवृणीत लोकं युक्त्या कया महद्-अनुग्रहम् अन्तरेण
yan-māyayoru-guṇa-karma-nibandhane 'smin sāṃsārike pathi caraṃs tad-abhiśrameṇa yan-māyayoru-guṇa-karma-nibandhane 'smin sāṃsārike pathi caraṃs tad-abhiśrameṇa naṣṭa-smṛtiḥ punar ayaṃ pravṛṇīta lokaṃ yuktyā kayā mahad-anugraham antareṇa
Wandering, by his māyā, on this path of transmigration, bound by the many qualities and works, and losing his memory through the toil of it — by what means could this (soul) attain the (higher) world again, without the grace of the great?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.16
ज्ञानं यद् एतद् अदधात् कतमः स देवस् त्रै-कालिकं स्थिर-चरेष्व् अनुवर्तितांशः ज्ञानं यद् एतद् अदधात् कतमः स देवस् त्रै-कालिकं स्थिर-चरेष्व् अनुवर्तितांशः तं जीव-कर्म-पदवीम् अनुवर्तमानास् ताप-त्रयोपशमनाय वयं भजेम
jñānaṃ yad etad adadhāt katamaḥ sa devas trai-kālikaṃ sthira-careṣv anuvartitāṃśaḥ jñānaṃ yad etad adadhāt katamaḥ sa devas trai-kālikaṃ sthira-careṣv anuvartitāṃśaḥ taṃ jīva-karma-padavīm anuvartamānās tāpa-trayopaśamanāya vayaṃ bhajema
Who is that god who bestowed this knowledge of the three times, whose portion abides within things unmoving and moving? Following that path of the living being's works, let us worship him for the quelling of the threefold affliction.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.17
देह्य् अन्य-देह-विवरे जठराग्निनासृग्- विण्-मूत्र-कूप-पतितो भृश-तप्त-देहः देह्य् अन्य-देह-विवरे जठराग्निनासृग्- विण्-मूत्र-कूप-पतितो भृश-तप्त-देहः इच्छन्न् इतो विवसितुं गणयन् स्व-मासान् निर्वास्यते कृपण-धीर् भगवन् कदा नु
dehy anya-deha-vivare jaṭharāgnināsṛg- viṇ-mūtra-kūpa-patito bhṛśa-tapta-dehaḥ dehy anya-deha-vivare jaṭharāgnināsṛg- viṇ-mūtra-kūpa-patito bhṛśa-tapta-dehaḥ icchann ito vivasituṃ gaṇayan sva-māsān nirvāsyate kṛpaṇa-dhīr bhagavan kadā nu
The embodied one, fallen into a well of blood, feces and urine within the cavity of another body, its body severely scorched by the fire of the stomach, wishing to get out of here and counting its months — when, O Lord, will this wretched-minded one be cast out?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.18
येनेदृशीं गतिम् असौ दश-मास्य ईश सङ्ग्राहितः पुरु-दयेन भवादृशेन येनेदृशीं गतिम् असौ दश-मास्य ईश सङ्ग्राहितः पुरु-दयेन भवादृशेन स्वेनैव तुष्यतु कृतेन स दीन-नाथः को नाम तत्-प्रति विनाञ्जलिम् अस्य कुर्यात्
yenedṛśīṃ gatim asau daśa-māsya īśa saṅgrāhitaḥ puru-dayena bhavādṛśena yenedṛśīṃ gatim asau daśa-māsya īśa saṅgrāhitaḥ puru-dayena bhavādṛśena svenaiva tuṣyatu kṛtena sa dīna-nāthaḥ ko nāma tat-prati vināñjalim asya kuryāt
O Lord, by one so greatly compassionate as you this ten-month-old one has been made to grasp such a state; let that protector of the wretched be pleased with his own deed — who could offer anything in return for it but folded palms?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 3 31.19
पश्यत्य् अयं धिषणया ननु सप्त-वध्रिः शारीरके दम-शरीर्य् अपरः स्व-देहे पश्यत्य् अयं धिषणया ननु सप्त-वध्रिः शारीरके दम-शरीर्य् अपरः स्व-देहे यत्-सृष्टयासं तम् अहं पुरुषं पुराणं पश्ये बहिर् हृदि च चैत्यम् इव प्रतीतम्
paśyaty ayaṃ dhiṣaṇayā nanu sapta-vadhriḥ śārīrake dama-śarīry aparaḥ sva-dehe paśyaty ayaṃ dhiṣaṇayā nanu sapta-vadhriḥ śārīrake dama-śarīry aparaḥ sva-dehe yat-sṛṣṭayāsaṃ tam ahaṃ puruṣaṃ purāṇaṃ paśye bahir hṛdi ca caityam iva pratītam
This one, bound in seven (fetters), surely sees with the intellect in matters of the body, while another, of restrained body, (sees) in his own body: the ancient Person by whose creating I came to be — him I see, both outside and in the heart, appearing as it were as the conscious one within.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SB 3 31.20
सो ऽहं वसन्न् अपि विभो बहु-दुःख-वासं गर्भान् न निर्जिगमिषे बहिर् अन्ध-कूपे सो ऽहं वसन्न् अपि विभो बहु-दुःख-वासं गर्भान् न निर्जिगमिषे बहिर् अन्ध-कूपे यत्रोपयातम् उपसर्पति देव-माया मिथ्या मतिर् यद्-अनु संसृति-चक्रम् एतत्
so 'haṃ vasann api vibho bahu-duḥkha-vāsaṃ garbhān na nirjigamiṣe bahir andha-kūpe so 'haṃ vasann api vibho bahu-duḥkha-vāsaṃ garbhān na nirjigamiṣe bahir andha-kūpe yatropayātam upasarpati deva-māyā mithyā matir yad-anu saṃsṛti-cakram etat
Therefore, O mighty one, though dwelling in a dwelling of much misery, I do not wish to go out of the womb into the blind well outside, where the god's māyā comes upon one who has arrived, and following which false notion this wheel of transmigration turns.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SB 3 31.21
तस्माद् अहं विगत-विक्लव उद्धरिष्य आत्मानम् आशु तमसः सुहृदात्मनैव तस्माद् अहं विगत-विक्लव उद्धरिष्य आत्मानम् आशु तमसः सुहृदात्मनैव भूयो यथा व्यसनम् एतद् अनेक-रन्ध्रं मा मे भविष्यद् उपसादित-विष्णु-पादः
tasmād ahaṃ vigata-viklava uddhariṣya ātmānam āśu tamasaḥ suhṛdātmanaiva tasmād ahaṃ vigata-viklava uddhariṣya ātmānam āśu tamasaḥ suhṛdātmanaiva bhūyo yathā vyasanam etad aneka-randhraṃ mā me bhaviṣyad upasādita-viṣṇu-pādaḥ
Therefore, with my agitation gone, I shall quickly lift myself out of the darkness by my own self as friend, so that this calamity with its many openings may not again be mine — having set Viṣṇu's feet (before me).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition