Text 42]
Fundamental Principles of Material Nature
1107
rasa-mātram abhūt tasmād ambho jihvā rasa-grahaḥ
rūpa-mātrāt —which evolves from the subtle element form;  vikurvāṇāt —undergoing transformation;  tejasaḥ —from fire;  daiva-coditāt —under a superior arrangement;  rasa-mātram —the subtle element taste;  abhūt —became manifested;  tasmāt —from that;  ambhaḥ —water;  jihvā —the sense of taste;  rasa-grahaḥ —which perceive taste.
TRANSLATION
By the interaction of fire and the visual sensation, the subtle element taste evolves under a superior arrangement. From taste, water is produced, and the tongue, which perceives taste, is also manifested.
PURPORT
The tongue is described here as the instrument for acquiring knowledge of taste. Because taste is a product of water, there is always saliva on the tongue.
TEXT 42
कषायो मधुरस्तिक्तः कट्वम्ल इति नैकथा । मौतिकानां विकारेण रस एको विभिद्यते ॥४२॥
kaṣāyo madhuras tiktaḥ kaṭv amla iti naikadhā bhautikānām vikāreṇa rasa eko vibhidyate
kaṣāyaḥ —astringent;  madhuraḥ —sweet;  tiktaḥ —bitter;  kaṭu —pungent;  amlaḥ —sour;  iti —thus;  naika-dhā —manifoldly;  bhautikānām —of other substances;  vikāreṇa —by transformation;  rasaḥ —the subtle element taste;  ekaḥ —originally one;  vibhidyate —is divided.
TRANSLATION
Although originally one, taste becomes manifold as astringent, sweet, bitter, pungent, sour and salty due to contact with other substances.