Prose-section 14

Tap any word for its meaning.

Prose-section 14

In plain words

This body, made of skin, flesh, sinew, fat, marrow and bone, and full of urine and excrement, deserves nothing but reproach. Formed, according to the karma of former births, from the five great gross elements compounded fivefold, this gross body is where the Self lives to enjoy the objects of the senses, as a house is where a householder lives. Its state is called waking. Waking is the time when the Self, joined to this body through superimposition, uses the outer senses to enjoy all kinds of gross things, garlands, sandal paste, women and the rest; so it is in this state that the gross body can be known. Know that all of a person’s outward worldly life has come from leaning on it. Coming into being, growing, ageing and dying are its properties. Infancy, childhood, youth and old age are its stages. The rules of caste and stage of life belong to it; honour and dishonour are its particular lot. And this gross body is the home of every disease.

Word for word

This body, composed of skin, flesh, sinews, fat, marrow and bones and filled with urine and excrement, is greatly to be disparaged. Produced from the five great gross elements combined fivefold in accordance with karma from former births, this gross body is an abode in which the Self resides to experience sense enjoyments, like a house for a householder. Its state is called waking. Waking is the occasion when the Self, associated with this body through superimposition, experiences varied gross objects such as garlands, sandal paste and women through the external senses; hence the gross body is known in this very state. Know that all external worldly involvement comes to the person through dependence upon it. Origination, growth, ageing, death and the like are attributes of this body. Infancy, childhood, youth and old age are its differing stages. Regulations such as varna and ashrama concern it; honour and dishonour are its particular conditions. This gross body is the seat of all diseases.