Shloka 7
धर्मलक्षण-प्रश्नः (Marks and Sources of Dharma) | Chapter 251: Inquiry into the Definition of Dharma
रसन॑ चेन्द्रियं जिह्दा रसश्चापां गुणो मतः । संघात: पार्थिवो धातुरस्थिदन््तनखानि च
rasanaṁ cendriyaṁ jihvā rasaś cāpāṁ guṇo mataḥ | saṅghātaḥ pārthivo dhātur asthi-danta-nakhāni ca ||
ବ୍ୟାସ କହିଲେ—ରସନେନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟର ଆଶ୍ରୟ ଜିହ୍ୱା, ଏବଂ ‘ରସ’ ଜଳର ଗୁଣ ବୋଲି ମନାଯାଏ। ଶରୀରର ସଂଘାତ/କଠୋରତା ପୃଥିବୀ-ତତ୍ତ୍ୱର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ; ତେଣୁ ଅସ୍ଥି, ଦାନ୍ତ ଓ ନଖ ଆଦିକୁ ପୃଥିବୀର ଅଂଶ ବୋଲି ଜାଣିବା ଉଚିତ।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
It maps bodily functions to the five great elements: taste and the tongue are connected with the water-element, while bodily hardness/compactness—seen in bones, teeth, and nails—belongs to the earth-element. This supports discernment (viveka) and loosens attachment to the body by viewing it as elemental composition.
In Shanti Parva’s instructional discourse, Vyāsa explains a doctrinal classification of sense-organs and bodily constituents according to elemental qualities, guiding the listener toward philosophical understanding of the body’s nature.