सप्त गतेर्विशेषितत्वाच्च ॥ ५ ॥
sapta gaterviśeṣitatvācca || 5 ||
sapta—Seven; gateḥ—being so known (from the scriptures); viśeṣitatvāc—on account of the specification; ca—and.
5. (The organs are) seven (in number), because it is so known (from the scriptures) and on account of the specification (of those seven).
The number of the organs is ascertained in this and the next Sutra. This Sutra, which gives the view of the opponent, declares that there are seven organs. “The seven Pranas (organs) spring from It” (Mu. 2. I. 8). These are again specified in another text, “Seven indeed are the Pranas (organs) in the head” (Taitt. Sam. 5. I. 7. 1). No doubt in some texts eight or even more organs are enumerated, but these are to be explained as modifications of the inner organ, and so there is no contradiction in the Sruti texts if we take the number as seven.