Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 25.djvu/155

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

17. Because those six (kinds of) minute particles, which form the (creator's) frame, enter (â-sri) these (creatures), therefore the wise call his frame sarîra, (the body.)


 


 

17. The translation again follows Nand., with whom Nâr. seems to have agreed. He says, 'Because six (kinds of) particles of his frame, i. e. the six before-mentioned portions of the body of Brahman, the Mahat, and the rest, enter, i. e. pervade these—all the creatures mentioned in the preceding verse are referred to—on account of that entering (srayanât), they call the body of that, i. e. of Brahman, sarîra. The meaning is as follows: The body of Hiranyagarbha is called sarîra, because it enters (srayati) all beings by means of its portions, being (their) material cause; but it is not destroyed (sîryate) like a common body.' Nand. thinks, therefore, that the punning explanation of the word sarîra from shad âsri, or sri, is given in order to show that the other etymology, which derives it from srî, 'to destroy,' is not applicable to the body of Brahman.

Medh., Gov., and Kull. take the verse very differently. They agree in supposing that the body is called sarîra, because the six elements mentioned enter into or produce the gross elements and the organs. Medh. reads tânîmani for tasyemâni, and according to his interpretation the translation would be, 'Because the six (kinds of) minute particles producing the body enter into (being their cause) or produce these (i. e. because egoism, the before-mentioned organs and the subtile elements enter the gross elements which will be mentioned hereafter), therefore the wise call the body, which is the visible shape of that (Pradhâna), sarîra.' Kull., who reads tasya, differs from this version only therein that he refers tasya to Brahman. Râgh. finally gives, in accordance with his explanation of 'those six,' the following version, 'Because the six (kinds of) fine particles constituting the subtile frame of that (Hiranyagarbha, i. e. the mind and the rest) enter these (gross bodies as their place of enjoyment), therefore the wise call the visible frame of that (i. e. of the individual soul) the sarîra.' He agrees, therefore, with Medh., Gov., and Kull. so far that he, too, refers the verse to the gross bodies.