1566 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 31
karmabhir va trayi-proktaih
pumso pi vibudhayusa

kim—what is the use; janmabhih—of births; tribhih—three; va—or; tha—
in this world; saukra—by semina; sdvitra—by initiation; yajiikaih—by
becoming a perfect brahmana; karmabhih— by activities; va— or; trayi—in
the Vedas; proktaih—instructed; pumsah—of a human being; api—even;
vibudha—of the demigods; dyusd—with a duration of life.

TRANSLATION

A civilized human being has three kinds of births. The first birth is by a
pure father and mother, and this birth is called birth by semina. The next
birth takes place when one is initiated by the spiritual master, and this birth
is called savitra. The third birth, called yajrika, takes place when one is
given the opportunity to worship Lord Visnu. Despite the opportunities
for attaining such births, even if one gets the lifespan of a demigod, if one
does not actually engage in the service of the Lord, everything is useless.
Similarly, one’s activities may be mundane or spiritual, but they are useless
if they are not meant for satisfying the Lord.

PURPORT

The word saukra-janma means taking birth by seminal discharge. Ani-
mals can take their birth in this way too. However, a human being can be
reformed from the Saukra-janma, as recommended in the Vedic civilization.
Before the birth takes place, or before father and mother unite, there is a
ceremony called garbhadhana-samskara, which must be adopted. This
garbhadhana-samskara is especially recommended for higher castes, espe-
cially the brahmana caste. It is said in the Sdstras that if the garbhadhana-
samskara is not practiced amongst the higher castes, the entire family be-
comes Siidra. It is also stated that in this age of Kali, everyone is Sidra due
to the absence of the garbhadhdana-samskara. This is the Vedic system.
According to the pdficaratrika system, however, even though everyone is a
Sidra due to the absence of the garbhadhana-samskara, if a person has but
a little tendency to become Krsna conscious, he should be given the chance
to elevate himself to the transcendental platform of devotional service.
Our Krsna consciousness movement adopts this pdficaratrika-vidhi, as ad-
vised by Srila Sanatana Gosvami, who says:

yathd kdficanatam yati
kamsyam rasa-vidhanatah
