Part 3 - Harinaigameṣī (the order-bearer of Śakra)

Q. 56. Bhante! When Harinaigameṣī, the order-bearer of Śakra, transfers one embryo from, and to, the wombs of women, does he do so from one womb to the other? Does he transfer embryo (from one womb), and place it into another through the uteras? Does he take out the embryo through the uteras and place it in the womb of another woman? Does he take out through the uteras and place it again through the uteras?

A. 56. Gautama! (He) does not transfer the embroy from one womb to another womb, nor does he transfer it from the womb (to be placed in another) through the uteras, nor does he take it out through the uteras, and place it again through the uteras, but he takes out the embryo through the uteras and places it in the womb of another woman by touching the embryo with his own hands, and without causing any pain to the embryo.

Q. 57. Bhante! Is Harinaigameṣī, the order-bearer of Śakra, capable to take out an embryo from the womb of a woman and place it into the womb of another woman with the tip of his nail, or with his pore-hair?

A. 57. Yes, he is so capable; and while doing it, he does not cause the embryo any pain, nor any particular pain even though he is cutting and piercing that womb, and taking out the embryo from one womb and placing it into another womb, but this (he does) with great expertise¹⁴.

Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):

14. Apparently, the reference is to the transfer of Mahāvīra’s embryo from the womb of the Brāhmaṇī Devānandā to that of the Kṣatriyāṇī Triśalā. Four forms of such transfer have been stated, which are:

1. take straight from one womb and place it into another;
2. take out from one womb and place it into another through the uteras of the latter woman;
3. take out through the uteras of the first woman and transfer to the womb of the second; and
4. take out from one womb through the uteras and place into another womb through the uteras.

Of these four, the third form has been considered to be most convenient and suitable.

In the matter of transferring an embryo from one womb to another, the capacity of the gods has been considered to be most perfect. They can transfer the embryo without causing even the slightest pain (ābādhā) or great pain (vībādhā) to the embryo. The god Harinegameṣī transferred the embryo of Mahāvīra with such dexterity that, despite his being in possession of three types of knowledge, Mahāvīra felt nothing about the actual process of transfer, even though he knew that he would be so transferred and he knew it after the process that he had been transferred.