FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.35

नभस: शब्दतन्मात्रात्कालगत्या विकुर्वत: । स्पर्शोऽभवत्ततो वायुस्त्वक्स्पर्शस्य च संग्रह: ॥ ३५ ॥
nabhasaḥ śabda-tanmātrāt
[nabhasah shabda-tanmaatraat]
kāla-gatyā vikurvataḥ
[kaala-gatyaa vikurvatah]
sparśo ’bhavat tato vāyus
[sparsho ’bhavat tato vaayus]
tvak sparśasya ca saṅgrahaḥ
[tvak sparshasya cha sangrahah]
Word-for-word
nabhasaḥ — from ether śabda-tanmātrāt — which evolves from the subtle element sound kāla-gatyā — under the impulse of time vikurvataḥ — undergoing transformation sparśaḥ — the subtle element touch abhavat — evolved tataḥ — thence vāyuḥ — air tvak — the sense of touch sparśasya — of touch ca — and saṅgrahaḥ — perception.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nabhasaḥ śabda-tanmātrāt
nabhasaḥ
from ether
śabda-tanmātrāt
which evolves from the subtle element sound
kāla-gatyā vikurvataḥ
kāla-gatyā
under the impulse of time
vikurvataḥ
undergoing transformation
sparśo ’bhavat tato vāyus
sparśaḥ
the subtle element touch
abhavat
evolved
tataḥ
thence
vāyuḥ
air
tvak sparśasya ca saṅgrahaḥ
tvak
the sense of touch
sparśasya
of touch
ca
and
saṅgrahaḥ
perception.
From ethereal existence, which evolves from sound, the next transformation takes place under the impulse of time, and thus the subtle element touch and thence the air and sense of touch become prominent.
Purport

In the course of time, when the subtle forms are transformed into gross forms, they become the objects of touch. The objects of touch and the tactile sense also develop after this evolution in time. Sound is the first sense object to exhibit material existence, and from the perception of sound, touch perception evolves, and from touch perception, the perception of sight. That is the way of the gradual evolution of our perceptive objects.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
From transformation of ether, whose tan-mātrā is sound, by the influence of time, touch appeared, and then air. Skin is the sense organ to receive touch. From the ether, whose tanmātrā is sound, arose touch. Skin receives (saṅgrahaḥ) the sensation of touch. It means the skin sense organ is the cause of receiving touch.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The senses and mind are not enemies but unguided servants. The verse points to gentle, consistent reining-in — not violence against the body, but honest direction of where attention goes. The verse anchors this in material existence.
Reflection Questions
  • What small rule kept consistently would do more for you than a dramatic vow once broken?
  • What would it look like to lead the mind, gently, the way you would lead a child?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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