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74
UTERINE BIRTH
two to four-sensed beings, have exposed nuclei. Those who are born of uteri have mixed wombs. The 84,00,000 kinds of nuclei must be ascertained from the scriptures. To quote from the scriptures. “The one-sensed souls, with common bodies from eternity, other one-sensed souls with common bodies, earth-bodied, water-bodied, fire-bodied and air-bodied beings, are of (originate from) 7,00,000 nuclei each. The nuclei of trees and other vegetation are 10,00,000. The nuclei of all the beings with maimed senses are 6,00,000. The birth-places of celestial and infernal beings and animals are 4,00,000 each. The wombs of human beings are 14,00,000.”
It would mean that all beings may take the three kinds of birth in the nine kinds of nuclei. The next sutra is intended to preclude such an interpretation.
जरायुजाण्डजपोतानां गर्भः Jarā yujāndajapotānāṁ garbhaḥ
(33) 33. Uterine birth is of three kinds, umbilical (with a sac covering), incubatory (from an egg) and unumbilical (without a sac covering?).
The web-like covering of the young one, which is composed of flesh and blood, is the outer skin of the embryo (jarāyu). The covering, which is composed of the white shell and blood, which is hard like the nail, and which is globular or oval in shape, is the egg. In the case of the young ones (potas) of certain animals, the limbs are developed without any covering, and the young ones are able to move about from the moment of their birth. Those born from sacs are umbilical, from eggs incubatory, and without sacs unumbilical. These are of uterine birth.
If these three kinds are of uterine birth, who are born in special beds ? ; देवनारकाणामुपपादः ।
11 38 ! Devanārakāņāmupapādaḥ 1 Some are born with the outer covering of the embryo. Children and calves are born with such outer coverings. The chickens etc. are born from eggs. The young ones of the deer, the cubs, etc. are born without any covering. Their limbs are perfected at the time of birth, and they are immediately active.
(34)
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