सूक्ष्मं तु तदर्हत्वात् ॥ २ ॥
sūkṣmaṃ tu tadarhatvāt || 2 ||
sūkṣmaṃ—Subtle; tu—but; tadarhatvāt—because it can be properly so designated.
2. But the subtle (cause of the body is meant by the term ‘Avyakta’) because it can be properly so designated.
An objection is raised. As the body is gross and developed, how can it be referred to by the term ‘Avyakta’ (Undeveloped)? The answer is, here, not the gross body but the causal substance, i.e. the five uncompounded elements out of which the body is built, is meant. They, being subtle and not fully manifest and also being beyond sense perception, can be properly designated by the term ‘Avyakta’ (Undeveloped). It is also a common thing to denote the effect by the cause and hence indirectly the gross body is referred to here. “Mix the Soma with the cow (i.e. milk)” (Rig Veda 9. 46. 4).