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Bhagavai 3:1:4 combination of the soul-units and the karmic particles. At the third stage, there is appropriation of the fine particles of gems, after rejecting the gross ones. At the fourth stage, the soul exercises the protean power for the second time, in order to create the desired images.
The fine particles of varieties of gems are utilized for the creation of varieties of images. In the world of science, the use of laser rays is prevalent today, which is a sort of utilizing the fine particles of gems. The Vrtti here raises the question as to- 'how the particles of the gems which are gross by nature could be utilized for the creation of the protean bodies? The creation of the protean bodies should need specific material particles that are suitable for the purpose'. The Vrtti answers the query in a language which is metaphorical. In its opinion, the mention of gems has been made in order to imply the specific nature of particles, suitable to the creation of the protean body. So, in the present Sūtra, the reference is not to the gems like diamonds, rubies etc., but to the material particles that are as precious as the gems for creating the protean body. The Vrtti has mentioned another opinion which purports to point out that the soul initially accepts gross material particles for the creation of the protean body, but afterwards they are transformed into material particles suitable for the protean forms."
It is evident from the plain meaning of the original text that the fine particles of the gems were used for creating (protean) bodies. So, there should be no difficulty in the transformation of those particles into material particles, suitable for the creation of the protean body. Semantics: Tantrī --- lute, stringed instrument. Tata -- palm of the hand. Tāla -- rhythmic clapping of the hands to produce music. A musical instrument made up of the bell-metal. The Vrtti has explained tala-tāla as clapping of hands. Alternately, it explains tala as hands and tāla as the bell-metal.20 Mrdanga --.a kind of drum. The Vrtti explains ghana-mrdanga as a cubic drum and gives mardala as its synonym.21 Nābhi-hub of the wheel. Vajramani - diamond. In the Kautilya's Arthaśāstra, 22 we find a detailed description of vajramani. Vaidūryamaņi ---- lapis lazuli; it may be a "cat's eye" gem, a precious grey coloured stone or may be of red, yellow or green colour. Lohitākṣa it is black in the centre and red on the border; it is also called lohitāka, coral. Masäragalla - masära means an emerald; it may be a polished precious stone or a metal which has a colour of coral. Hansagarbha -- topaz, a kind of lapis lazuli.23 Pulaka — a kind of stone or gem, a flaw or defect in a gem. It has a black spot in the middle. In the Kautilya's Arthśästra, there is a list of eighteen kinds of gems, which
ties.
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