Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.29.9
Ūti· What drives us to actThe Body’s Gates Have Different Positions
“Two eyes, two nostrils and a mouth — all together five — are situated in the front. The right ear is accepted as the southern gate, and the left ear is the northern gate. The two holes, or gates, situated in the west are known as the rectum and genital organ.”
What the purport teaches
- The two eyes, two nostrils and mouth form the five gates situated in the front of the body.
- The right ear is the southern gate, and the left ear is the northern gate. The rectum and genital organ are the two western gates.
- The eastern side is considered most important because the sun rises there. The eyes, nose and mouth are therefore described as very important bodily gates.
Try this today
Sketch a simple outline of the body today and label the nine gates with the positions given in this verse.
Ask yourself
How does identifying the gates help me understand the description of the body?
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.