sā bhāvayitrī bhāvayitavyā bhavati | taṁ strī garbhaṁ bibharti | so 'gra eva kumāraṁ janmano 'gre 'dhibhāvayati | sa yat kumāraṁ janmano 'gre 'dhibhāvayaty ātmānam eva tad bhāvayaty eṣāṁ lokānāṁ santatyā | evaṁ santatā hīme lokāḥ | tad asya dvitīyaṁ janma ||
"She who nourishes is to be nourished. The woman bears the embryo. The father nourishes the child even before birth and after. By nourishing the child, he nourishes himself for the continuation of these worlds. For thus are these worlds continued. This is his second birth."
What This Means:
The mother who nourishes must herself be nourished. The father continues to nurture the child before and after birth. In caring for the child, he's actually ensuring his own continuity and that of the cosmic order. Physical birth is the second birth.
Going Deeper:
The cycle of nurturing (bhāvana) creates continuity. Parents nurture children who become parents who nurture children. Through this chain, both families and the cosmos continue. Your birth is part of this vast continuum.
How To Apply This:
Nurturing others is nurturing yourself — not metaphorically, but because the same Self lives in all. Care for children, students, or anyone you guide is care for your own deeper nature.
Key Sanskrit Terms: