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Shloka 44

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

Tattva-vicāra

रसमात्राद्विकुर्वाणादम्भसो दैवचोदितात् । गन्धमात्रमभूत्तस्मात्पृथ्वी घ्राणस्तु गन्धग: ॥ ४४ ॥

rasa-mātrād vikurvāṇād ambhaso daiva-coditāt gandha-mātram abhūt tasmāt pṛthvī ghrāṇas tu gandhagaḥ

ਜਦੋਂ ਪਾਣੀ ਰਸ-ਤਨਮਾਤਰਾ ਨਾਲ ਦੈਵੀ ਵਿਵਸਥਾ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਵਿਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਦੋਂ ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਗੰਧ-ਤਨਮਾਤਰਾ ਉਤਪੰਨ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ; ਫਿਰ ਧਰਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਘ੍ਰਾਣ ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਧਰਤੀ ਦੀ ਸੁਗੰਧ ਨੂੰ ਅਨੇਕ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਅਨੁਭਵ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

rasa-mātrātfrom mere taste alone
rasa-mātrāt:
Apādāna (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootrasa (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'rasa-mātram' = 'only taste'
vikurvāṇātfrom (it) transforming
vikurvāṇāt:
Hetu (हेतु/causal circumstance)
TypeVerb
Rootvi√kṛ (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), Ablative (5/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine/Neuter agreeing with 'ambhasaḥ' implied; 'while transforming'
ambhasaḥfrom water
ambhasaḥ:
Apādāna (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootambhas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)
daiva-coditātimpelled by divine will
daiva-coditāt:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeAdjective
Rootdaiva (प्रातिपदिक) + codita (√cud, कृदन्त)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Ablative (5/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'daivena coditaḥ' (impelled by the divine)
gandha-mātrammere smell alone
gandha-mātram:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgandha (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
abhūtcame into being
abhūt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√bhū (धातु)
FormAorist (लुङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
tasmāttherefore / from that
tasmāt:
Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormAblatival adverb (तस्मात्-प्रयोग): 'therefore/from that'
pṛthvīearth
pṛthvī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpṛthvī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
ghrāṇaḥthe nose (organ of smell)
ghrāṇaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootghrāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
tuindeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात): emphasis
gandha-gaḥdirected toward smell / smell-perceiving
gandha-gaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootgandha (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (√gam, कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'gandhe gacchati/pravartate' = 'moving in smell'
K
Kapila
D
Devahūti

FAQs

This verse says earth arises when water transforms under divine supervision, producing the subtle quality of fragrance (gandha), from which earth manifests.

He is teaching Devahūti Sāṅkhya—how subtle sense qualities (tanmātras) and the gross elements evolve—so the soul can discern matter from spirit and progress toward liberation through devotion.

Use sense experiences (like smell) as reminders that the body and world are composed of changing elements, and redirect the mind toward the unchanging Self and loving devotion to the Lord.