1108 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 26

TEXT 43

Sad fired aft: corarcaraaray |
TATA TATA TATA (VII

kledanam pindanam trptih
prananadpyayanondanam

tapdpanodo bhiiyastvam
ambhaso urttayas tv imah

kledanam—moistening; pindanam—coagulating; trptih—causing satisfac-
tion; pranana— maintaining life ;dpyayana—refreshing;undanam— softening;
tipa—heat; apanodah—driving away; bhityastvam—being in abundance;
ambhasah—of water; urttayah—the characteristic functions; tu—in fact;
imah—these.

TRANSLATION

The characteristics of water are exhibited by its moistening other
substances, coagulating various mixtures, causing satisfaction, maintaining
life, softening things, driving away heat, incessantly supplying itself to
reservoirs of water, and refreshing by slaking thirst.

PURPORT

Starvation can be mitigated by drinking water. It is sometimes found
that if a person who has taken a vow to fast takes a little water at intervals,
the exhaustion of fasting is at once mitigated. In the Vedas it is also
stated, dpomayah pranah. “Life depends on water.” With water anything
can be moistened or dampened. Flour dough can be prepared with a
mixture of water. Mud is made by mixing earth with water. As stated in
the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam, water is the cementing ingredient of
different material elements. If we build a house, water is actually the
constituent in making the bricks. Fire, water and air are the exchanging
elements for the entire material manifestation, but water is most promi-

nent. Also, excessive heat can be reduced simply by pouring water on the
heated field.

TEXT 44
Tamasgtingaat = taster |
TAA AM TA HOT TAT NWVVM
