Shloka 12
मत्स्यो यथान्य: स्यादप्सु सम्प्रयोगस्तथा तयो: । सम्बन्धस्तोयबिन्दूनां पर्ण कोकनदस्य च,जैसे जलसे मछली भिन्न है तो भी मछली और जल--दोनोंका संयोग देखा जाता है एवं जलकी बूँदोंका कमलके पत्तेसे सम्बन्ध देखा जाता है
matsyo yathānyaḥ syād apsu samprayogas tathā tayoḥ | sambandhas toyabindūnāṃ parṇa kokanadasya ca ||
Vāyu said: “Just as a fish may be distinct from the water, yet the union of fish and water is plainly seen, so too one observes the connection between drops of water and the leaf of the kokanada-lotus. In the same way, difference in nature does not prevent relationship or association when conditions and purpose join them.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that apparent difference does not negate connection: distinct entities can still be meaningfully associated, as shown by fish with water and water-drops with a lotus leaf. It supports a broader ethical-philosophical point that relations arise through context, function, and contact, not merely sameness of nature.
Vāyu is speaking and uses everyday natural examples—fish living in water and droplets resting on a lotus leaf—to illustrate a principle about sambandha (relation) and samprayoga (association), likely to clarify a subtle point in the surrounding discussion.