Lakṣaṇam Manasa Sloka Meaning in English Translation | DailyHomeStudy

Charak Samhita, the foundation of Ayurveda, explains the division of constituent factors. A person is known to possess 24 entities such as mind, 10 sense organs, 5 sense objects, and prakrti (matter) consisting of 8 entities (Ayakta, mahat, ahankara and 5 tanmatras). And in this there is description of the nature and actions of the mind.

The nature of the mind is defined as: the entity which, even on contact with self, sense organs and sense objects, is responsible for production or otherwise of knowledge by it’s attending or non-attending respectively. Subtleness and oneness are known as 2 qualities of mind.

While the actions of the mind are: The object of thinking, analysing, reasoning, meditating, determination and whatever, is to be perceived by mind is its object. Action of mind consists of : control over senses, self-restraint, reasoning, analysing. Beyond that is the jurisdiction of Buddhi (intellect).

We have specifically covered the verse which covers the nature of the mind.

lakṣaṇam manasa Sloka Source

Charak Samhita ShariraSthana 1.18

lakṣaṇam manasa: Sloka

lakṣaṇam manasa: jñānasya abhāva: bhāva eva vā।
sati hi ātma indriyārthānāṃ sannikarṣeṇa eva vartate॥

lakṣaṇam manasa: Sloka Meaning in English

English Translation

Mind is defined as: the entity which , even on contact with self, sense organs and sense objects, is responsible for production or otherwise of knowledge by it’s attending or non-attending respectively. Subtleness and oneness are known as 2 qualities of mind.

lakṣaṇam manasa: meaning in one sentence

The Nature of The Mind

Word to Word Meaning

vidyA = knowledge; from root vid, there are many words.
sam-vedana = to know together, know same as other, sympathy)
A-vedana = announcement, to be let known
ni-vedana = request, inform
vid = to be present, as in vidyamAn

dadAti = dad verb, to give. -da as suffix makes adjectives

vinayaM = training, discipline, cultured mannerism (from training), humbleness.
root ‘nee’ which means to take (away).
e.g. netA = leader; who leads, takes (to the goal)
abhinetA = actor, who leads us emotionally through the story by his/her acting
neeti = policy, that which leads (the nation, organization, person to their goal)

vinayAt = from discipline, humbleness

yAti = comes. yA = movement
AyAta = import (coming in)
niryAta = export (going out)
yAtAyAta = traffic, transportation

pAtratAM = worthiness
pAtra = container, vessel, recipient
a-pAtra dAna = charity to an undeserving, unworthy

pAtratvAt = from worthiness

dhanaM = wealth, money

dhanAt = from wealth (-At suffix meaning from)
dharmaM = the right thing, charity, good deeds, duty [NOT religion]
tataH = from that
sukhaM = happiness, opposite of sorrow, lack of pain. cf. sukhAsana = the comfort posture.