मनो बुद्धिरहंकारश्चित्तमित्यन्तरात्मकम् चतुर्धा लक्ष्यते भेदो वृत्त्या लक्षणरूपया
mano buddhir ahaṅkāraś cittam ity antarātmakam caturdhā lakṣyate bhedo vṛttyā lakṣaṇa-rūpayā
Synonyms
manaḥ—the mind; buddhiḥ—intelligence; ahaṅkāraḥ—ego; cittam—consciousness; iti—thus; antarātmakam—the internal, subtle senses; catuḥ-dhā—having four aspects; lakṣyate—is observed; bhedaḥ—the distinction; vṛttyā—by their functions; lakṣaṇa-rūpayā—representing different characteristics..
Translation
The internal subtle senses are experienced as having four aspects in the shape of mind, intelligence, ego and contaminated consciousness. Distinctions between them can be made only by different functions, since they represent different characteristics.
Purport
The four internal senses or subtle senses described herein are defined by different characteristics. When pure consciousness is polluted by material contamination, and identification with the body becomes prominent, this is called false ego. Consciousness is the function of the soul, and therefore behind consciousness there is soul. When consciousness is polluted by material contamination, this is called ahaṅkāra.