Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 2.10.18

mukhatas talu nirbhinnam

jihva tatropajayate

tato nana-raso jajne

jihvaya yo 'dhigamyate

SYNONYMS

mukhatah -- from the mouth; talu -- the palate; nirbhinnam -- being generated; jihva -- the tongue; tatra -- thereupon; upajayate -- becomes manifested; tatah -- thereupon; nana-rasah -- various tastes; jajne -- became manifested; jihvaya -- by the tongue; yah -- which; adhigamyate -- become relished.

TRANSLATION

From the mouth the palate became manifested, and thereupon the tongue was also generated. After this all the different tastes came into existence so that the tongue can relish them.

PURPORT

This gradual process of evolution suggests the explanation of the controlling deities (adhidaiva) because Varuna is the controlling deity for all relishable juices. Therefore the mouth becomes the resting place for the tongue, which tastes all the different juices, of which the controlling deity is Varuna. This suggests, therefore, that Varuna was also generated along with the development of the tongue. The tongue and the palate, being instrumental, are adhibhutam, or forms of matter, but the functioning deity, who is a living entity, is adhidaiva, whereas the person undergoing the function is adhyatma. Thus the three categories are also explained as to their birth after the opening of the mouth of the virat-purusha. The four principles mentioned in this verse serve to explain the three main principles, namely the adhyatma, adhidaiva and adhibhutam, as explained before.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness