Chapter II, Section IV, Adhikarana II

Adhikarana summary: The number of the organs

Brahma-Sutra 2.4.5: Sanskrit text and English translation.

सप्त गतेर्विशेषितत्वाच्च ॥ ५ ॥

sapta gaterviśeṣitatvācca || 5 ||

sapta—Seven; gateḥ—being so known (from the scriptures); viśeṣitatvāc—on account of the specification; ca—and.

5. (The organs are) seven (in number), because it is so known (from the scriptures) and on account of the specification (of those seven).

The number of the organs is ascertained in this and the next Sutra. This Sutra, which gives the view of the opponent, declares that there are seven organs. “The seven Pranas (organs) spring from It” (Mu. 2. I. 8). These are again specified in another text, “Seven indeed are the Pranas (organs) in the head” (Taitt. Sam. 5. I. 7. 1). No doubt in some texts eight or even more organs are enumerated, but these are to be explained as modifications of the inner organ, and so there is no contradiction in the Sruti texts if we take the number as seven.

 

Brahma-Sutra 2.4.6: Sanskrit text and English translation.

हस्तादयस्तु स्थितेऽतो नैवम् ॥ ६ ॥

hastādayastu sthite’to naivam || 6 ||

hastādayaḥ—Hands etc.; tu—but; sthite—being a fact; ataḥ—therefore; na—not; evam—like this;

6. But hands etc. (are also referred to as sense-organs in scriptural texts). Since this is a fact, therefore (it is) not like this (i.e. they are not merely seven in number).

‘But’ refutes the view of the previous Sutra. “The hands are the Graha (organs)” etc. (Brih. 8. 2. 8). Such texts show that the hands etc. are additional sense-organs. Therefore to the seven already enumerated, viz. eyes, nose, ears, tongue, touch, speech, and inner organ, four others, viz. hands, feet, anus, and the organ of generation, have to be added. In all, therefore, there are eleven organs. The different modifications of the inner organ, viz. mind, intellect, ego, and Chitta (memory), are not separate organs, and therefore cannot raise the number beyond eleven, which is therefore the number fixed. These are : the five organs of knowledge, the five organs of action, and the inner organ.