Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.25.49
मुख्या नाम पुरस्ताद् द्वास्तयापणबहूदनौ ।
विषयौ याति पुरराड्रसज्ञविपणान्वित: ॥ ४९ ॥
mukhyā nāma purastād dvās
[mukhyaa naama purastaad dvaas]
tayāpaṇa-bahūdanau
[tayaapana-bahoodanau]
viṣayau yāti pura-rāḍ
[vishayau yaati pura-raad]
rasajña-vipaṇānvitaḥ
[rasajna-vipanaanvitah]
Word-for-word
mukhyā
—
the chief
nāma
—
called
purastāt
—
on the eastern side
dvāḥ
—
gate
tayā
—
by that
āpaṇa
—
of the name Āpaṇa
bahūdanau
—
of the name Bahūdana
viṣayau
—
two places
yāti
—
used to go
pura-rāṭ
—
the King of the city (Purañjana)
rasa-jña
—
of the name Rasajña
vipaṇa
—
of the name Vipaṇa
anvitaḥ
—
along with.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mukhyā nāma purastād dvās
mukhyā
the chief
nāma
called
purastāt
on the eastern side
dvāḥ
gate
tayāpaṇa-bahūdanau
tayā
by that
āpaṇa
of the name Āpaṇa
bahūdanau
of the name Bahūdana
viṣayau yāti pura-rāḍ
viṣayau
two places
yāti
used to go
pura-rāṭ
the King of the city (Purañjana)
rasa-jña
of the name Rasajña
rasajña-vipaṇānvitaḥ
vipaṇa
of the name Vipaṇa
anvitaḥ
along with.
The fifth gate situated on the eastern side was named Mukhyā, or the chief. Through this gate, accompanied by his friends named Rasajña and Vipaṇa, he used to visit two places named Bahūdana and Āpaṇa.
Purport
The mouth is here described as the chief or the most important gate. The mouth is a very important entrance because one has two functions to conduct with the mouth. One function is eating, and the other is speaking. Our eating is done with the friend Rasajña, the tongue, which can taste so many different types of foods. The tongue is also used for speaking, and it can speak of either material sense enjoyment or Vedic knowledge. Of course, here material sense enjoyment is stressed. Therefore the word rasajña is used.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
On the eastern side was a gate named Mukhyā, or the chief. Through this gate, accompanied by Rasajña and Vipaṇa, he used to visit two places named Bahūdana and Āpaṇa.
The mouth is called the chief because it gives life to everything else. By that one gate the King went to two places. By each of the two other doors mentioned he only went one place. Thus this one door is superior. This is the mouth. It is used for speaking (āpaṇa) and taking food (bahūdanaḥ). This word is used instead of bahvodana, since it speaks of the past. Rasajñam is the tongue and vipaṇaḥ is the voice.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Mukhyā (the chief — mouth) with Rasajña (taste-knower) and Vipaṇa (speech) goes to Bahūdana (food) and Āpaṇa (market). Mouth is chief: eating and speaking, both done at the same portal.
Reflection Questions
- Where do I underestimate the chief-ness of the mouth in my dharma and discipline?
- Which side of the mouth's job — eating or speaking — is more out of control?
My note
Source: vedabase.io