करणानि च सिद्धिना न कृतिः करणैर्विना
And the organs are instruments of accomplishment; without the organs, there is no action.
चेष्टन्ते कार्यमालंब्य विभुत्वात्करणानि तु
The organs perform actions by relying on objects, due to their power.
तेभ्यो भूतान्येकगुणान्याख्यातानि भवन्ति हि
From these, the elements, each possessing one quality, are said to arise.
रूपं त्रिषु रसश्चैव द्वयोर्गन्धः क्षितौ तथा
Form exists in three, taste in two, and smell in earth as well.
पाकश्च संग्रहश्चैव धारणं चेति कथ्यते
Cooking, gathering, and retention—these are declared.
भास्वदग्नौ जले शुक्लं क्षितौ शुक्लाद्यनेकधा
In the shining fire, in water, and on earth, whiteness and other qualities appear in many forms.
गन्धः क्षितावसुरभिः सुरभिश्च प्रकीर्तितः
On earth, fragrance is called 'surabhi' and is renowned as such.
भूतस्य तु विशेषो ऽयं विशेषरहितं तु तत्
This is the distinction of the element; that which is without distinction is indeed that.
पञ्चभूतात्मकं सर्वं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम्
All the world, both immobile and mobile, is composed of the five elements.
देहे ऽस्थिमांसकेशत्वङ्नखदन्ताश्च पार्थिवाः
In the body, bones, flesh, hair, skin, nails, and teeth are of the earth element.
हृदि पङ्क्तौ दृशोः पित्ते तेजस्तद्धर्मदर्शनात्
In the heart, in the digestive tract, in the eyes, and in bile, fire is present, as seen by its properties.
वियत्सर्वासु नाडीषु गर्भवृत्यनुषङ्गतः
In all the channels of the body, due to the function of the embryo, space is present.
प्रत्यात्मनियतं भोगभेदतो व्यवसीयते
In each individual, it is determined according to the diversity of experience.
देहेषु कर्मवशतः सर्वेषु विचरन्ति हि
By the force of karma, they move about in all bodies.
अशुद्धाध्वामतो ह्येष धरण्यादिकलावधिः
Because of the impure path, this extends up to the divisions beginning with earth.
स्थावरा गिरिवृक्षाद्या जङ्गमस्त्रिविधः पुनः
Among immobile beings are mountains and trees; among mobile beings, there are three kinds.
चराचरेषु लक्षाणां चतुराशीतियोनयः
Among moving and unmoving beings, there are eighty-four hundred thousand species.
प्राप्नोति कर्मवशतः परं सर्वार्थसाधकम्
By the force of karma, one attains the highest, which accomplishes all purposes.
महापुण्यवशेनैव जनिर्भवति दुर्लभा
Only through the power of great merit is birth, which is difficult to obtain, achieved.
बिन्दुरेकः प्रविशति यदा गर्भे द्वयात्मकः
When a single drop enters the womb, it becomes dual in nature.
मलकर्मादिपाशेन कश्चिदात्मा नियन्त्रितः
Bound by the fetter of impurity, karma, and the like, some soul is restrained.
अथ तत्राहृतैर्मात्रा पानान्नाद्यैश्च पोषितः
Then, nourished there by the measures of what is drunk and eaten by the mother, he grows.
दुःखाद्यः पीडितश्चैवाच्छन्नदेहो जरायुणा
Afflicted by suffering, his body covered and enclosed by the womb,
स्मरंस्तिष्टति दुःखात्मापीड्यमानो मुहुर्मुहुः
He remains conscious, his nature full of pain, tormented again and again.
संपीडितो निःसरति योनियन्त्रादवाङ्मुखः
Pressed hard, he emerges from the birth-channel, his face turned downward.
ततः क्रमेण स शिशुर्वर्धमानो दिनेदिने
Then, gradually, that child grows day by day.
एवं क्रमेण लोके ऽस्मिन्देहिनां देहसंभवः
Thus, in this world, the embodiment of beings comes about in succession.
यस्तारयति नात्मानं तस्मात्पापतरो ऽत्र कः
Who, then, is more sinful here than one who does not deliver himself?
पश्वादीनां च सर्वेषां च सर्वेषां साधारणमितीरितम्
This has been declared as common to all creatures, including animals.
मनुष्याणामयं धर्मः रवबन्धच्छेदनात्मकः
But for humans, this law is characterized by the severance of bondage.