Shloka 41

Sāṅkhya: Categories of the Absolute Truth and the Unfolding of Creation

Tattva-vicāra

Devanagari script

रूपमात्राद्विकुर्वाणात्तेजसो दैवचोदितात् । रसमात्रमभूत्तस्मादम्भो जिह्वा रसग्रह: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

rūpa-mātrād vikurvāṇāt tejaso daiva-coditāt rasa-mātram abhūt tasmād ambho jihvā rasa-grahaḥ

Translation

रूप-तन्मात्रा के साथ तेज (अग्नि) के विकार से, दैव-प्रेरणा द्वारा रस-तन्मात्रा उत्पन्न हुई। रस से जल प्रकट हुआ और रस को ग्रहण करने वाली जिह्वा भी प्रकट हुई।

Synonyms

• रूप-मात्रात्: from mere form
• रूप-मात्रात्: Apādāna (अपादान; source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘रूपस्य मात्रम्’

• विकुर्वाणात्: from (it) transforming
• विकुर्वाणात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान; causal condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘while transforming/modifying’—तेजसः इति सम्बन्धे

• तेजसः: of fire/tejas
• तेजसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• दैव-चोदितात्: from what is divinely impelled
• दैव-चोदितात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक) + चोदित (कृदन्त; √चुद्/√चोद्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘दैवेन चोदितम्’ (urged by the divine)

• रस-मात्रम्: mere taste (subtle essence)
• रस-मात्रम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject of abhūt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘रसस्य मात्रम्’

• अभूत्: arose; became
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-निपातवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थे (therefrom)

• अम्भः: water
• अम्भः: Karta (कर्ता; implied—water as product)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जिह्वा: the tongue
• जिह्वा: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य; sense-organ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रस-ग्रहः: apprehender of taste
• रस-ग्रहः: Viśeṣaṇa/Predicate (विशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘रसस्य ग्रहः’ (grasper of taste)

Purport

The tongue is described here as the instrument for acquiring knowledge of taste. Because taste is a product of water, there is always saliva on the tongue.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahūti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of taste and water?

This verse states that from the transformation of the subtle principle of form, fire produces the subtle principle of taste, and from taste, water manifests—along with the tongue as the organ that perceives taste.

Why is Lord Kapila describing the evolution of elements and senses to Devahuti?

Kapila teaches Devahūti Sāṅkhya—an analysis of matter and spirit—so she can understand how the body and senses arise and thereby become detached from misidentifying the self with material elements.

Practical application of this Sāṅkhya teaching in modern life?

Recognize taste and sensory craving as products of material nature; use the tongue in devotion—through regulated diet and chanting—so the senses become purified rather than dragging the mind into attachment.