Text 39] Fundamental Principles of Material Nature 1105

receives a body according to his previous activities. Needless to say, a
living entity transmigrates from one form to another. His form changes
according to predestiny and by the arrangement of a superior authority
which controls the interaction of air and the mental situation. Form is the
combination of different types of sense perception. Predestined activities
are the plans of the mental situation and the interaction of air.

TEXT 39
Tata Tra safmdenaaa F |
dated Awa: afta STATA TAT: 1121

dravyakrtitvam gunata
vyakti-samsthdtvam eva ca

tejastvam tejasah sddhvi
riipa-matrasya urttayah

dravya—of an object; Gkrtituam—dimension; gunata—quality; vyakti-
samsthatvam—individuality; eva—also; ca—and; tejastvam—effulgence;'
tejasah—of fire; sadhvi—O virtuous lady; riipa-matrasya—of the subtle
element form; urttayah—the characteristics.

TRANSLATION

My dear mother, the characteristics of form are understood by dimen-
sion, quality and individuality. The form of fire is appreciated by its
effulgence.

PURPORT

Every form that we appreciate has its particular dimensions and charac-
teristics. The quality of a particular object is appreciated by its utility. But
the form of sound is independent. Forms which are invisible can be
understood only by touch; that is the independent appreciation of invisible
form. Visible forms are understood by analytical study of their constitu-
tion. The constitution of a certain object is appreciated by its internal
action. For example, the form of salt is appreciated by the interaction of
salty tastes, and the form of sugar is appreciated by the interaction of
sweet tastes. Tastes and qualitative constitution are the basic principles in
understanding the form of an object.
