Brahma Sutras – Chapter 2, Section 4 –  Slokas 1 – Slokas 22

।। द्वितीयोऽध्यायः ।।
।। चतुर्थः पादः ।।

तथा प्राणाः ।। 2.4.1 ।।

As the Supreme Brahman is the Primordial Cause and the Creator, all the organs are also created by IT.

 

गौण्यसम्भवात्।।2.4.2।।

As the origin of all is the Supreme Brahman who is limitless and beyond the constraints of mind and thought, it is impossible to explain the creation in a secondary sense.

 

तत्प्राक्श्रुतेश्च।।2.4.3।।

And because the word that denotes origin is mentioned first in connection with the organs or Prānas, it is clear that the Primordial Cause and Creator is the Supreme Brahman.

 

तत्पूर्वकत्वाद्वाचः।।2.4.4।।

The five elements have come into existence before the organs of speech and others.

 

सप्त गतेर्विशेषितत्वाच्च।।2.4.5।।

The organs or Prānas are seven in number as mentioned in the scriptures and as per their specification.

 

हस्तादयस्तु स्थितेऽतो नैवम्।।2.4.6।।

The seven as referred in the scriptural texts are eyes, ears, nose, tongue, speech, touch, inner organ of memory, mind, intellect and ego and the other four mentioned in the scriptures are hands, feet, anus and reproductive organs. Therefore, there are eleven in total.

 

अणवश्च।।2.4.7।।

And they are minute.

 

श्रेष्ठश्च।।2.4.8।।

And the chief Prāna that is the vital air is also produced.

 

न वायुक्रिये पृथगुपदेशात्।।2.4.9।।

The chief Prāna is neither air nor any function of the organs as it is mentioned separately.

 

चक्षुरादिवत्तु तत्सहशिष्ट्यादिभ्यः।।2.4.10।।

But Prāna is subordinate to the jeeva like eyes and others.

 

अकरणत्वाच्च न दोषस्तथाहि दर्शयति।।2.4.11।।

The Prāna is not considered to be an instrument like the eyes and other organs as per the scriptures.

 

पञ्चवृत्तिर्मनोवद्व्यपदिश्यते।।2.4.12।।

The Prāna is said to have a five-fold function like the mind, each with a special function – Prāna, Apāna, Vyāna, Udāna and Samāna.

 

अणुश्च।।2.4.13।।

And it is minute.

 

ज्योतिराद्यधिकरणम्।।2.4.14।।

The scriptures state that as the organs are inert, they cannot function by themselves and are presided by Fire and others.

 

प्राणवता शब्दात्।।2.4.15।।

The scriptures state that the jeeva and not the organs are the enjoyers and therefore, the jeeva and not the gods are enjoyers as the organs are connected to the jeeva.

 

तस्य च नित्यत्वात्।।2.4.16।।

And as the jeeva is eternal, IT becomes the enjoyer and not the gods.

 

त इन्द्रियाणि तद्व्यपदेशादन्यत्र श्रेष्ठात्।।2.4.17।।

The other Prānas except the principal Prāna are organs as mentioned in the scriptures and are different from the principal Prāna.

 

भेदश्रुतेः।।2.4.18।।

And they have been mentioned in detail separately in the scriptural texts.

 

वैलक्षण्याच्च।।2.4.19।।

The organs and Prānas are deemed to be different on account of their characteristics.

 

संज्ञामूर्तिक्लृप्तिस्तु त्रिवृत्कुर्वत उपदेशात्।।2.4.20।।

The arrangement of designation, shape and form is done by the Supreme Brahman who made the elements under the three-fold classification as taught in the Upanishads.

 

मांसादि भौमं यथाशब्दमितरयोश्च।।2.4.21।।

Flesh, bones and other emerge from earth according to the scriptures and this is also with regards with fire and water.

 

वैशेष्यात्तु तद्वादस्तद्वादः।।2.4.22।।

The fine elements of fire, water and earth are not found in equal proportions in each of the gross elements and hence, the gross element is named after the fine element which preponderates in its constitution.

 

[Brahma Sutras – Chapter 2, Section 4 –  Slokas 1 – Slokas 22]