श्रोत्रे घ्राणो रसः स्पर्शो दृष्टिश्चेन्द्रियसंज्ञिताः
Hearing, smell, taste, touch, and sight are known as the senses.
स्थावराणां न दृश्यन्ते शरीरे पञ्च धातवः
In immobile beings, the five elements are not seen in the body.
वृक्षाणां नोपलभ्यन्ते शरीरे पञ्च धातवः
In trees, the five elements are not found in the body.
न च स्पर्शं हि जानन्ति ते कथं पञ्च धातवः
And they do not perceive touch; so how can the five elements be present?
आकाशस्याप्रमेयत्वादृक्षाणां नास्ति भौतिकम्
Because space is immeasurable, trees do not have the material element of space.
तेषां पुष्पपलव्यक्तिर्नित्यं समुपपद्यते
Yet the manifestation of flowers and fruits in them always occurs.
म्लायते शीर्यते चापि स्पर्शस्तेनात्र विद्यते
They wither and decay as well; thus, touch is present there.
श्रोत्रेण गृह्यते शब्दस्तस्माच्छृण्वन्ति पादपाः
Sound is grasped by hearing; therefore, trees hear.
नह्यदृष्टश्च मार्गो ऽस्ति तस्मात्पश्यन्ति पादपाः
There is no unseen path; therefore, trees see.
अरोगाः पुष्पिताः संति तस्माज्जिघ्रन्ति पादपाः
They are healthy and bear flowers; therefore, trees smell.
जीवं पश्यामि वृक्षाणामचैतन्यं न विद्यते
I perceive life in trees; there is no absence of consciousness.
आहारपरिणामाञ्च स्नहो वृद्धिश्च जायते
Through the transformation of nourishment, moisture and growth arise.
प्रत्येकशः प्रभिद्यन्ते यैः शरीरं विचेष्टते
Individually, they are divided, by which the body functions.
इत्येतदिह संघातं शरीरे पृथिवीमये
Thus, this aggregate here in the body is composed of earth.
अग्निर्जनयते यञ्च पञ्चाग्नेयाः शरीरिणः
Fire produces what is born; embodied beings are of five fires.
आकाशात्प्राणिनामेते शरीरे पञ्च धातवः
From space, these five elements arise in the bodies of living beings.
इत्यापः पञ्चधा देहे भवन्ति प्राणिनां सदा
Thus, water in five forms always exists in the bodies of living beings.
प्राणात्प्रीणयते प्राणी व्यानाव्द्यायच्छते तथा
By the life-breath, the living being is nourished, and likewise, by vyāna, it is sustained.
इत्येते वायवः पञ्च वेष्टयन्तीहदेहिनम्
Thus, these five winds envelop the embodied being here.
तस्य गन्धस्य वक्ष्यामि विस्तराभिहितान्गुणान्
Now I will describe in detail the qualities of that fragrance.
निर्हारी संहतः स्निग्धो रुक्षो विशद एव च
It is extracting, compact, unctuous, dry, and also clear.
ज्योतिः पश्यति चक्षुर्भ्यः स्पर्शं वेत्ति च वायुना
Light is seen by the eyes, and touch is perceived by the wind.
रसज्ञानं तु वक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
I will now explain the knowledge of taste; listen to me as I speak.
मधुरो लवणस्तिक्तः कषायो ऽम्लः कटुस्तथा
Sweet, salty, bitter, astringent, sour, and pungent—these are the tastes.
शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपश्च त्रिगुणं ज्योतिरुच्यते
Sound, touch, and form—these threefold qualities are said to belong to light.
ह्रस्वो दीर्धस्तथा स्थूलश्चतुरस्रो ऽणुवृत्तवान्
Short, long, thick, four-sided, minute, and round.
कठिनश्चिक्कणः श्लक्ष्णः पिच्छिलो मृदु दारुणः
Hard, sticky, smooth, slimy, soft, and harsh.
तत्रैकगुणमाकाशं शब्द इत्येव तत्स्मृतम्
Among these, space is said to have a single quality, which is sound.
षड्जो ऋषभगान्धारौ मध्यमोधैवतस्तथा
Ṣaḍja, Ṛṣabha, Gāndhāra, Madhyama, Dhaivata, and likewise.
एष सप्तविधः प्रोक्तो गुण आकाशसंभवः
This sevenfold quality, arising from space, is thus declared.