उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

पार्थिवप्रकरणम् ॥ १६ ॥ CHAPTER XVI "CONSISTING OF EARTH" ¹ पार्थिवः कठिनो धातुर्द्रवो देहे स्मृतोऽम्मयः । पक्तिचेष्टावकाशाः स्युर्वह्निवाय्वम्बरोद्भवाः ॥ १ ॥

1. The hard material in the body is known to be a transformation of earth; the liquid part consists of water; and heat, vibration and empty space ² in the body are due to fire, air and ether respectively. घ्राणादीनि तदर्थाश्च पृथिव्यादिगुणाः क्रमात् । रूपालोकवदिष्टं हि सजातीयार्थमिन्द्रियम् ॥ २ ॥
2. Smell etc., (i.e., the senses) and their objects are produced from earth etc. respectively as the senses have for their objects things of their own kind e.g., colour and light (the latter being of the same nature as the former, its object). ¹ The name is after the first word of this chapter in the text. ² I.e., the channels through which food, drink, and the mind move in the body.