oṣadhi-vanaspatayo lomāni bhūtvā tvacaṁ prāviśan | candramā mano bhūtvā hṛdayaṁ prāviśat | mṛtyur apāno bhūtvā nābhiṁ prāviśat | āpo reto bhūtvā śiśnaṁ prāviśan ||
"Plants and trees became hair and entered the skin. The Moon became mind and entered the heart. Death became the downward breath and entered the navel. Waters became seed and entered the generative organ."
What This Means:
The correspondences continue: plants govern our hair and skin, the Moon rules the mind (heart was considered the seat of mind), Death governs elimination (apana), and Waters govern reproduction.
Going Deeper:
The mind-Moon connection is significant. Just as the Moon waxes, wanes, and has phases, so does the mind fluctuate. The heart as the seat of mind suggests that true thinking involves feeling — head and heart are not separate.
How To Apply This:
When your mind fluctuates wildly, remember it's moon-like by nature. Don't demand constant clarity. When you face death or letting go, know that a cosmic principle (Mrityu) works through the apana breath to release what must be released.
Key Sanskrit Terms: