14.4 sarva yOnishu kaunthEya

SrI:  SrImathE SatakOpAya nama:  SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:  SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Chapter 14

<< Chapter 14 verse 3

SlOkam – Original

sarva yOnishu kaunthEya mUrthaya: sambhavanthi yA: |
thAsAm brahma mahadhyOnir aham bIjapradha: pithA ||

word-by-word meaning

kaunthEya – Oh son of kunthI!
sarva yOnishu – in all births such as dhEva (celestial), manushya (human), thiryak (animal) and sthAvara (plants)
yA: mUrthaya: – those forms/bodies
sambavanthi – are appearing
thAsAm – for those bodies
mahath brahma – primordial matter (which is in effect state along with the chEthanas (souls))
yOni: – cause.
aham – I am
bIjapradha: – unites the chEthanas (souls) with the matter (based on their individual karma)
pithA – father

Simple Translation

Oh son of kunthI! The primordial matter (which is in effect state along with the chEthanas (souls)) is the cause in all births such as dhEva (celestial), manushya (human), thiryak (animal) and sthAvara (plants) for those different forms/bodies which are appearing. I am the father who unites the chEthanas (souls) with the matter (based on their individual karma) [to create the variegated forms].

Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam

‘Of every form, Kaunteya! that is born of every womb, the great womb of all is matter, and I am the seed-giver, the father.’

Whatever forms are seen to proceed from the wombs of Devas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshas, man, animals, beasts, birds, serpents etc., matter-stuff is the great field of conception, i.e., the material nature that transforms itself into the variations, Mahat etc., with the aggregate of the animate Element imbedded by Me therein, is the cause. I am the father i.e, I am the Imbedder or Uniter, according to circumstances, determined by each one’s (soul’s) karma.

Thus in the manner determined by previous karma, souls, matter-bound, spring forth from the wombs of deva etc. The cause that tends to perpetuate such generation is now pointed out:

>> Chapter 14 verse 5

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