Brahmopadeśa: Adhipatitva-kathana, Dharma-lakṣaṇa, and Kṣetra–Kṣetrajña Viveka
Book 14, Chapter 43
अपां धातू रसो नित्यं जिद्नया स तु गृहाते । जिद्दास्थश्न तथा सोमो रसज्ञाने विधीयते
apāṁ dhātū raso nityaṁ jihvayā sa tu gṛhyate | jihvā-sthaś ca tathā somo rasa-jñāne vidhīyate ||
Vāyu-deva dit : «Le goût est une essence éternelle appartenant à l’élément eau, et il est saisi par la langue. La Lune (Soma), demeurant dans la langue, est établie comme aide pour connaître et savourer le goût.»
वायुदेव उवाच
The verse links sense-perception to elemental cosmology: taste (rasa) is rooted in the water-element and is known through the tongue, with Soma (the Moon principle) supporting the capacity to discern and enjoy taste.
Vāyu-deva is explaining a doctrinal mapping of elements, senses, and deities—describing how taste is perceived and assigning Soma a functional presence in the tongue for the cognition of taste.