ततः स जीवशब्दार्थकलनाकुलतां गतः । मनो भवति भूतात्मा मननान्मन्थरीभवन् ॥ १४ ॥
tataḥ sa jīvaśabdārthakalanākulatāṁ gataḥ | manō bhavati bhūtātmā mananānmantharībhavan || 14 ||
Translation
Then, fallen into the agitation of grasping at what the word "jīva" means, the Self of beings becomes mind, slowed by its thinking.
Word by word
- tataḥ
- then
- sa
- (saḥ) the
- jīva
- "jīva"
- śabda
- the word
- artha
- what it means
- kalanā
- of grasping
- ākulatāṁ
- agitation
- gataḥ
- fallen into
- manō
- (manaḥ) mind
- bhavati
- becomes
- bhūtātmā
- the Self of beings
- mananān
- (mananāt) by its thinking
- mantharībhavan
- slowed
Meaning
The commentary: having described creation that comes from the power of knowing alone, Vasiṣṭha now describes creation joined with the power of action. Then the subtle Self of the elements, moved by holding the breath, which is what "jīva" means and where the power of action rules, becomes mind, made heavy by the inertia of thinking and doubting. The word jīva means "one who lives", one who breathes; taking that meaning on, the Self becomes busy, and busy awareness is mind.