SB 3.26.41 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

रूपमात्राद्विकुर्वाणात्तेजसो दैवचोदितात् । रसमात्रमभूत्तस्मादम्भो जिह्वा रसग्रह: ॥ ४१ ॥

Verse text

rūpa-mātrād vikurvāṇāt tejaso daiva-coditāt rasa-mātram abhūt tasmād ambho jihvā rasa-grahaḥ

Synonyms

rūpa — mātrāt — which evolves from the subtle element form ; vikurvāṇāt — undergoing transformation ; tejasaḥ — from fire ; daiva — coditāt — under a superior arrangement ; rasa — mātram — the subtle element taste ; abhūt — became manifested ; tasmāt — from that ; ambhaḥ — water ; jihvā — the sense of taste ; rasa — grahaḥ — which perceives taste .

Translation

By the interaction of fire and the visual sensation, the subtle element taste evolves under a superior arrangement. From taste, water is produced, and the tongue, which perceives taste, is also manifested.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

By transformation of fire whose tan-mātrā is form under the influence of time, taste appeared. From taste appeared water. The tongue perceives taste.

Purport

The tongue is described here as the instrument for acquiring knowledge of taste. Because taste is a product of water, there is always saliva on the tongue.