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.
वहन्मूत्रं पुरीषं वाप्यपानः परिवर्तते
The downward-moving breath circulates, carrying urine or feces.
उदान इति तं प्राहुरध्यात्मज्ञानकोविदाः
Those skilled in knowledge of the self call that one udāna.
शरीरेषु मनुष्याणां व्यान इत्युपदिश्यते
In the bodies of humans, it is taught as vyāna.
रसान्वारु दोषांश्च वर्तयन्नति चेष्टते
It moves, distributing fluids and humors.
समन्वितस्त्वधिष्टानं सम्यक् पचति पावकः
Endowed with its own seat, the fire properly digests.
रेतस्तस्मात्प्रजायन्ते सर्वस्रोतांसि देहिनाम्
From that, semen is produced, and all the channels of embodied beings.
ऊष्मा चागिरीति ज्ञेयो यो ऽन्नं पचति देहिनाम्
That which digests food in embodied beings is to be known as heat and as agni.
स ऊर्ध्वमागम्य पुनः समुत्क्षिपति पावकम्
Having ascended upward, it again raises the fire.
नाभिमूले शरीरस्य सर्वे प्राणाश्च संस्थिताः
At the root of the navel in the body, all the vital breaths are established.
वहॄन्त्यन्नरसान्नाड्यो दशप्राणप्रचोदिताः
The channels, impelled by the ten vital breaths, carry the essence of food.