PURPORT

The physical characteristics of matter, as softness, etc., are subject of the sense perception, and thus physical knowledge is the subject matter of the touch sensation. One can measure the temperature of matter by touching with the hand, and one can measure the weight of a matter by lifting with the hand and thus estimate its heaviness or lightness. The skin, the skin pores and the hairs on the body are all interdependent with touch sensation. The air blowing within and without the skin is also an object of sense perception. This sense perception is also the source of knowledge, and therefore it is suggested here that physical or physiological knowledge are subordinate to the knowledge of the Self, as above mentioned. Knowledge of Self can expand to the knowledge of phenomena, but physical knowledge cannot lead to the knowledge of Self.

There is, however, intimate relation between the hairs on the body and the vegetation on the body of the earth. The vegetables are nourishment for the skin both as food and medicine, as is stated in the Third Canto: "tvacam asya vinirbhinnam vivisur dhisnyam osadhih."