Sloka 95
Sloka 95
Original Text:
वागादि पञ्च श्रवणादि पञ्च प्राणादि पञ्चाभ्रमुखानि पञ्च । बुद्ध्याद्यविद्यापि च कामकर्मणी पुर्यष्टकं सूक्ष्मशरीरमाहुः ॥ ९६ ॥
Certainly. Here is the detailed analysis of the given sloka:
- **Transliteration:**
``` vāgādi pañca śravaṇādi pañca prāṇādi pañcābhramukhāni pañca buddhyādyavidyāpi ca kāmakarmaṇī puryaṣṭakaṃ sūkṣmaśarīram āhuḥ ```
- **Translation:**
``` The five organs of action beginning with speech, the five organs of perception beginning with hearing, the five vital airs starting with prāṇa, the five elements beginning with the mind, the intellect and nescience, along with desire and action, are together referred to as the subtle body, consisting of eight constituents. ```
- **Word Meanings:**
* **vāgādi** - beginning with speech * **pañca** - five * **śravaṇādi** - beginning with hearing * **prāṇādi** - beginning with prāṇa (vital airs) * **abhramukhāni** - beginning with cloud (representing subtle elements) * **buddhyādi** - beginning with intellect * **avidyā** - ignorance * **api** - also * **ca** - and * **kāmakarmaṇī** - desire and action * **puryaṣṭakaṃ** - the eightfold city (referring to the eight constituents) * **sūkṣmaśarīram** - subtle body * **āhuḥ** - they say
- **Commentary:**
This sloka provides an insight into the composition of the subtle body (sūkṣmaśarīra) in Vedantic philosophy. According to the tradition, the subtle body is made up of eight primary constituents, often depicted metaphorically as a city (puryaṣṭaka). The sloka categorizes these constituents into groups:
1. The five organs of action (karmendriyāṇi) like speech, hands, feet, excretion, and reproduction. 2. The five organs of perception (jñānendriyāṇi) such as ears (hearing), skin (touch), eyes (sight), tongue (taste), and nose (smell). 3. The five prāṇas or vital forces (prāṇa, apāna, vyāna, udāna, samāna) that regulate physiological functions. 4. The mind (manas) along with its functions, often included with the subtle elements like sound, touch, form, taste, and smell, metaphorically presented here by cloud (abhramukhāni). 5. The intellect (buddhi), nescience or ignorance (avidyā), desire (kāma), and actions (karma).
The sloka underscores the integration of sensory faculties, vital energies, and psychic elements formed in the subtle body, which is essential for experiencing life and subsequent rebirths according to one's karma. Such a synthesis illustrates the profound complexity of human existence as seen in Vedantic thought, where the physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions interplay within the journey of the soul.
Further Readings: