Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.26.45
Sarga· CreationEarth’s Aroma Appears in Many Varieties
“Odor, although one, becomes many — as mixed, offensive, fragrant, mild, strong, acidic and so on — according to the proportions of associated substances.”
What the purport teaches
- Odor is originally one but becomes varied according to the proportions of associated substances. Its varieties include mixed, offensive, fragrant, mild, strong and acidic.
- The purport illustrates mixed smells with vegetables prepared using spices and asafetida. It also describes pleasant smells from camphor and menthol.
- The original aroma emanates from the earth. When mixed with different substances, it appears in different ways.
Try this today
Notice the aroma of a prepared food today and consider how its different ingredients contribute to the mixed smell.
Ask yourself
How does this teaching change the way you understand the variety of familiar smells?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.