तथा प्राणाः ॥ १ ॥
tathā prāṇāḥ || 1 ||
tathā—Likewise; prāṇāḥ—the organs.
1. Likewise the organs (are produced from Brahman).
In the scriptures, in those sections which treat of the origin of things, we do not find the origination of the organs etc. mentioned. On the other hand, there are texts like, “This was indeed non-existence in the beginning. They say: What was nonexistence in the beginning? Those Rishis . . . . Who are those Rishis ? The Pranas (organs) are indeed the Rishis” (Sat. Br. 6. 1. 1. 1), which show that the organs are eternal and not created.
This Sutra refutes that view and says that the organs etc. are produced just like ether etc. from Brahman. The word ‘likewise’ refers not to the immediately preceding topic of the last section, which is the plurality of souls, but to the creation of ether etc. spoken of in the last section. Sruti texts directly declare their origination. “From that (Self) are produced the vital force, mind, and all the organs” (Mu. 2. 1. 3). Therefore the senses are created.