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Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya
Chapter-13 Prakṛti-Puruṣa-vivek Yogaḥ
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icchā dveṣaḥ sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ saṅghātaścetanā dhṛtiḥ | CommentaryThe principle elements, the Ahaṅkāra, the Buddhi and the Avyakta are factors that produce the body or Field. The 'principle elements' are the earth, water, fire, air and ether. The 'Ahaṅkāra' (ego-sense) here refers to the Bhūtadi (primeval elements). The 'Buddhi' is what is called Mahat or cosmic intelligence; the 'Avyakta' is also known as the Prakrti or Material Nature. The 'ten senses and the one' and the ‘five objects of senses’ are principles rooted in the Kṣetra. The five sensory organs are ears, skin, eyes, taste buds and nose. The five motor organs are tongue (speech), hands, feet, and the organs of excretion and reproduction — these are known as the ten senses. The Manas or organ of internal perception — the mind, is the additional 'one'. The 'objects of the senses' are five — sound, feel, form, taste and smell. Attraction, aversion, pleasure and pain, being the effects of the Field, are said to be its modifications. Though attraction, aversion, pleasure and pain are said to be the characteristics of the Self, yet they arise from the association of the Self with the body or Field. Krishna will later in verse 20 affirm that they are the characteristics of the Self. The combination of elements serves as the support (Adhrti) of the Self. As such, the word Adhrti means substratum. The combination of material elements produces the substratum (mind-body) as a device for the Self to experience pleasure and pain, and to acquire worldly experiences as well as final liberation. The combination of elements is formed by the substances commencing with the Prakrti and ending with the earth. These form a Sanghata or an aggregate of elements and this is called the Field. Now certain virtues, the produce of the Kṣetra, which are worthy of being cultivated as they are the means for securing the knowledge of the Self, are enumerated. |
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