Flavours upon Water

Verse 11 discusses Upadhi, which is a limiting adjunct associated with or added to something else, creating an appearance of limitation or modification that does not exist in reality. The gross, subtle, and causal bodies are the Upadhis that seem to restrict Atman. It is because of these that caste, colour, position, and similar distinctions are superimposed upon Atman, just as colours and flavours are superimposed upon pure water. Verses 12, 13, and 14 respectively describe the Upadhis of the gross, subtle, and causal bodies and explain how they are formed from the evolution of the five great elements.