36 Mr. Colebhooke on tlte Philosophy of the Hindus. 



by combinations of the simple elements, in proportions of four-eighths of the 

 predominant and characteristic one with an eighth of each of the other 

 four : that is, the particles of the several elements, being divisible, are, in 

 the first place, split into moieties ; whereof one is subdivided into quarters ; 

 and the remaining moiety combines with one part (a quarter of a moiety) 

 from each of the four others, thus constituting coarse or mixed elements.* 

 The exterior case, composed of elements so combined, is the nutrimentitious 

 {annamaya) sheath ; and being the scene of coarse fruition, is therefore 

 termed the gross body. 



The organic fiame assimilates the combined elements received in food, and 

 secretes the finer particles and rejects the coarsest : earth becomes flesh ; 

 water, blood ; and inflammable substances (oil or grease), marrow. The 

 coarser particles of the two first are excreted as feces and urine ; those of the 

 third are deposited in the bones. The finer particles of the one nourish the 

 mind ; of the other, supply respiration ; of tiie third, support speech. 



Organized bodies are arranged by the veddntim in either four or three 

 classes : for both wliich arrangements the authority of passages of the veda 

 is cited. Their four classes are the same with tliose of otlier writers ; but 

 the threefold division appears to be peculiar to this school. It is, 1st. vivipa- 

 rous (jivqja), as man and quadrupeds ; 2d. oviparous (an'd'aja), as birds and 

 insects ; 3d. germiniparous {_udbliiija).\ Tlie latter, liowcver, comprehends 

 the two terminating classes of the fourfold distribution, vermin and vegeta- 

 ble ; differing but as one sprouts from the earth, the other pullulates from 

 water : the one fixed, the other locomotive. To both, equivocal and spon- 

 taneous generation, or proj)agation without union of parents, is assigned. 



The order in whicii the five elements are enumerated is that of their 

 development : 1st. the etherial element (flcaVa), which is deemed a most 

 subtile fluid, occupying all space and confounded with vacancy : sound is 

 its particular quality. Ud. Wind (yuyii), or air in motion : for mobility is its 

 characteristic ; sound and feel are sensible in it. 3d. Fire or light {tijas), of 

 which heat is the characteristic ; and by which sound, feel, and colour (or 

 form) are made manifest. 4th. Water (ffja), of which fluidity is characteristic ; 

 and in which sound, feel, colour, and taste occur. 5th. Earth (pnthivi or 

 anna\ of which hardness is characteristic ; and in which sound, feel, colour, 

 taste, and smell are discernible. 



[} *. Ved, Sara.. 136. f S'anc, &c. on Sr. Sutr. 3. 1. § 3. (S. 21.) 



