Verse 2.23 - The possessors of the remaining four senses

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 2.23:

कृमिपिपीलिकाभ्रमरमनुष्यादीनामेकैकवृद्धानि ॥ २.२३ ॥

kṛmipipīlikābhramaramanuṣyādīnāmekaikavṛddhāni || 2.23 ||

The beings such as the worm (kṛmi), the ant (pipīlikā), the bee (bhramara) and the human (manuṣya), each, have senses one more than the preceding one. (23)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [कृमिपिपीलिकाभ्रमर मनुष्यादीनाम्] कृमि इत्यादि, चींटी इत्यादि, भ्रमर इत्यादि तथा मनुष्य इत्यादि के [एकैक वृद्धानि] क्रम से एक एक इन्द्रिय बढ़ती (अधिक-अधिक) है अर्थात् कृमि इत्यादि के दो, चींटी इत्यादि के तीन, भौंरा इत्यादि के चार और मनुष्य इत्यादि के पाँच इन्द्रियाँ होती हैं।

Anvayartha: [krimipipilikabhramara manushyadinam] krimi ityadi, cimti ityadi, bhramara ityadi tatha manushya ityadi ke [ekaika vriddhani] krama se eka eka indriya badha़ti (adhika-adhika) hai arthat krimi ityadi ke do, cimti ityadi ke tina, bhaumra ityadi ke cara aura manushya ityadi ke pamca indriyam hoti haim |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

Who are the beings that possess the other senses?

The phrase ‘eka-eka’ in the sūtra indicates successiveness. It indicates that the senses increase by one successively. The base is the sense of touch (sparśana). Creatures like the worm (kṛmi) have the sense of taste (rasanā) in addition to the sense of touch (sparśana). The ant (pipīlikā) and similar creatures possess the sense of smell (ghrāṇa) in addition to the senses of touch and taste. The bee (bhramara) and creatures of that class possess the sense of sight (cakṣu) in addition to the senses of touch, taste and smell. Man and the beings similar to him possess the sense of hearing (śrotra) in addition to the former four.

Their accomplishment is as in case of the sense of touch (sparśana), explained already. In each case, there is the fruition (udaya) of the intense, all-destructive (sarvaghāti) karmic matter of the subsequent sense or senses.