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.
मृदङ्गभेरीशङ्खानां स्तनयित्नो रथस्य च
Of the drum, kettle-drum, conch, thunder, and chariot.
वायव्यस्तु गुणः स्पर्शः स्पर्शश्च बहुधा स्मृतः
The quality of wind is touch, and touch is considered manifold.
तथा खरो मृदुः श्लक्ष्णो लवुर्गुरुतरो ऽपि च
Thus, rough, soft, smooth, light, and also heavy.
एवमेकादशविधो वायव्यो गुण उच्यते
In this way, the quality of wind is said to be elevenfold.
अव्याहतैश्चेतयते नवेति विषमा गतिः
It moves with uninterrupted impulses, nine in number, and its course is irregular.
आपो ऽग्निर्मारुश्चैव नित्यं जाग्रति देहिषु
Water, fire, and wind are always active in embodied beings.
पार्थिवं धातुमासाद्य यथा चेष्टयते बली
Just as a powerful being acts upon attaining the earthly element,
प्राणो मूर्द्धनि वाग्नौ च वर्तमानो विचेष्टते
So too, when the vital breath is present in the head or in the fire of speech, it moves about.
मनो बुद्धिरहॄङ्कारो भूतानि विषयश्च सः
Mind, intellect, ego, the elements, and the senses—
पृष्टतस्तु समानेन स्वां स्वां गतिमुपाश्रितः
Each, following behind with the equalizing breath, attains its own course.