Section 2.7 (seventh khaṇḍa) (two texts)

Upaniṣad text:

One should meditate upon the gradually higher and better fivefold Sāma in reference to the Sense-organs: The Breathing organ is the syllable Hiṃ; the Vocal organ is the Prastāva; the Visual organ is the Udgītha; the Auditory organ is the Pratihāra; the Mind is the Nidhana.—These, verily are gradually higher and better.—(1)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

One should meditate upon the gradually higher and better fivefold Sāma in reference to the Sense-organs. That is, one should meditate upon the Sāma viewed as the Sense-organs, and endowed with the quality of being gradually higher and better.—The Breathing organ—i.e. the Olfactory organ,—is the syllable ‘Hiṃ’; because it is the first among a set where each succeeding one is superior to the preceding one.—The Vocal organ is the Prastāva; because everything is introduced (prastūyate) by means of speech; and speech is superior to olfaction, inasmuch as through the Vocal organ one can speak of a thing which is not in contact with the organ, while the Olfactory organ can apprehend only such odour as is in contact with it.—The Visual organ is the Udgītha; inasmuch as the Visual organ illumines (renders cognisable) more things than the Vocal organ, it is superior to the vocal organ; and it is the Udgītha, on account of its great importance.—The Auditory organ is the Pratihāra; because it is withdrawn within (pratihṛta); and this is superior to the Visual organ, because sound is heard from all sides. —Mind is the Nidhana; because the objects apprehended through all the organs are all stored (nidhīyante) in the Mind; and the Mind is superior to the Auditory organ, because it bears upon all things and hence is more extensive in its operations; in fact, even things beyond the reach of the senses are apprehensible through the Mind.—For the said reasons, all these,—organs, Olfactory and the rest—Verily are gradually higher and better.—(1)

Upaniṣad text:

If one meditates upon the gradually higher and better Sāma, in reference to the Sense-organs,—what is higher and better comes to him and he wins such regions as are higher and better. So much for the fivefold Sāma.—(1)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

If one meditates upon Sāma as qualified by the said view, then his life becomes higher and better etc., etc.,—as already explained above—So much for the fivefold Sāma;—;that is, so far what has been described is meditation upon the fivefold Sāma;—This is meant to divert attention to what is going to be said next in regard to the sevenfold Sāma; because not caring much for the five-fold aspect, the Speaker is going to attract attention to what he is going to say next.—(2)

End of Section (7) of Discourse II.