Text 37] Fundamental Principles of Material Nature 1103

mrdutvam—softness; kathinatvam—hardness; ca—and; Saityam—cold;
usnatvam—heat; eva—also; ca—and; etat—this; sparsasya—of the subtle
element touch; sparsatvam—the distinguishing attributes; tanmatratuam—
the subtle form; nabhasvatah—of air.

TRANSLATION

Softness and hardness and cold and heat are the distinguishing attri-
butes of touch, which is characterized as the subtle form of air.

PURPORT

Tangibility is the proof of form. In actuality, objects are perceived in
two different ways. They are either soft or hard, cold or hot, etc. This
tangible action of the tactile sense is the result of the evolution of air,
which is produced from the sky.

TEXT 37

Med syed iat TTITTA |
Aa FERATOTIAT HS TTA: BATT (12

calanam vyithanam praptir
netrtvam dravya-sabdayoh

sarvendriyandm dtmatvam
vayoh karmabhilaksanam

calanam—moving; vyithanam—mixing; prdptih—allowing approach;
netrtvam—carrying; dravya-sabdayoh—particles of substances and sound;
sarva-indriyanam—of all the senses; dtmatvam—providing for the proper
functioning; vayoh—of air; karma—by actions; abhilaksanam—the distinct
characteristics.

TRANSLATION

The action of the air is exhibited in movements, mixing, allowing
approach to the objects of sound and other sense perceptions, and
providing for the proper functioning of all other senses.

PURPORT

We can perceive the action of the air when the branches of a tree move
or when dry leaves on the ground collect together. Similarly, it is only by
