MOKSHADHARMA PARVA: Chapter 252

The subject of spirituality; the formation of elements

व्यास उवाच द्वन्द्वानि मोक्षजिज्ञासुरर्थधर्मावनुष्ठितः। वक्त्रा गुणवता शिष्यः श्राव्यः पूर्वमिदं महत्॥
Vyasa said A qualified preceptor should, first of all, describe the most capacious subject of spirituality, that has been explained in the previous chapter, to a disciple who wishes to enquire after Liberation after having transcended all pairs of opposites and performed the concerns of both profit and religion.

आकाशं मारुतो ज्योतिरापः पृथ्वी च पञ्चमी। भावाभावौ च कालश्च सर्वभूतेषु पञ्चसु॥
Ether, wind, light, water, and earth as the fifth, and existence and non-existence and time, exist in all living creatures having the five for their component ingredients.

अन्तरात्मकमाकाशं तन्मयं श्रोत्रमिन्द्रियम्। तस्य शब्दं गुणं विद्यान्मूर्तिशास्त्रविधानवित्॥
Space is unoccupied interstice. The organs of hearing consist of space. One knowing the science of elements endued with form should know that ether has sound for its attribute.

चरणं मारुतोत्मेति प्राणापानौ च तन्मयौ। स्पर्शनं चेन्द्रियं विद्यात् तथा स्पर्श च तन्मयम्॥
Wind is essence of the feet. The vital airs are made of wind. Wind is the essence of the sense of touch, and touch is the attribute of wind.

ताप: पाकः प्रकाशश्च ज्योतिश्चक्षुश्च पञ्चमम्। तस्य रूपं गुणं विद्यात् ताम्रगौरासितात्मकम्॥
Heat, the digestive fire in the stomach, light that manifests all things, the heat of the body, and eye as the fifth, are all of light which has forin of various colours for its attribute.

प्रक्लेदः क्षुद्रता स्नेह इत्यपामुपदिश्यते। असृङ्मज्जा च यच्चान्यत् स्निग्धं विद्यात् तदात्मकम्॥६
Solubility, and all kinds of liquid matter partake of water. Blood, marrow, and all else that is cool, have water for their essence. The longue is the sense of taste, and taste is known as the attribute of water

रसनं चेन्द्रियं जिह्वा रसश्चापां गुणो मतः। संघातः पार्थिवो धातुरस्थिदन्तनखानि च।॥
All solid substances partake of earth, as also bones, teeth, nails, beard, the hairs on the body, hair, nerves, sinews, and skin.

श्मश्रु रोम च केशाश्च शिरा स्नायु च चर्म च। इन्द्रियं घ्राणसंज्ञातं नासिकेत्यभिसंज्ञिता॥
The nose is known as the organ of smell. The object of that senses, viz., scent, is known as the attribuite of earth.

गन्धश्चेवेन्द्रियार्थोऽयं विज्ञेयः पृथिवीमयः। उत्तरेषु गुणाः सन्ति सर्वसत्त्वेषु चोत्तराः॥ पञ्चानां भूतसंघानां संततिं मुनयो विदुः।
Each subsequent element partakes of the attribute or attributes of the preceding one in addition to its own. The (three) supplementary entities exist in all living creatures. The Rishis thus described the five elements and the effects and qualities emanating from or belonging to them.

मनो नवममेषां तु बुद्धिस्तु दशमी स्मृता॥ एकादशस्त्वनन्तात्मा स सर्वः पर उच्यते।
The mind is the ninth, and the understanding is the tenth. The Soul, which is infinite, is the eleventh. It is considered as the highest of all.

व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिर्मनो व्याकरणात्मकम्। कर्मानुमानाद् विज्ञेयः स जीवः क्षेत्रसंज्ञकः॥
The mind has doubt or its essence. The understanding discriminates and produces certainty. The Soul becomes known as Jiva or individual soul when invested with body through the consequences of acts.

एभिः कालात्मकैर्भावैर्यः सर्वैः सर्वमन्वितम्। पश्यत्यकलुषं कर्म स मोहं नानुवर्तते॥
That man who regards all living creatures as unsullied though endued with all these entities having time for their essence, has never to perform acts moved on by error.