Shvetashvatara Upanishad 1.5
intermediate
पञ्चस्रोतोम्बुं पञ्चयोन्युग्रवक्त्रां पञ्चप्राणोर्मिं पञ्चबुद्ध्यादिमूलाम्। पञ्चावर्तां पञ्चदुःखौघवेगां पञ्चाशद्भेदां पञ्चपर्वामधीमः॥
pañcastrotombuṃ pañcayonyugravaktrāṃ pañcaprāṇormiṃ pañcabuddhyādimūlām | pañcāvartāṃ pañcaduḥkhaughavegāṃ pañcāśadbhedāṃ pañcaparvāmadhīmaḥ ||
"We understand this river (of existence) with five streams, five sources, five terrible mouths, five waves of prana, five roots of mind, five whirlpools, five currents of suffering, fifty variations, and five divisions."
What This Means:
The river of samsara is described: five streams (senses), five sources (elements), five pranas, five mental faculties - all creating whirlpools of suffering.
Going Deeper:
The fivefold nature of phenomenal existence is emphasized: five elements, five senses, five pranas, etc. This river of life causes drowning until one finds the Lord.
How To Apply This:
Recognize the currents of existence that sweep you along. Understanding them is the first step to transcendence.
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