Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 13
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Māyā, Cosmic Dissolution, Guru-Śaraṇāgati, Bhakti, and Deity Worship
वायुना हृतगन्धा भू: सलिलत्वाय कल्पते । सलिलं तद्धृतरसं ज्योतिष्ट्वायोपकल्पते ॥ १३ ॥
vāyunā hṛta-gandhā bhūḥ salilatvāya kalpate salilaṁ tad-dhṛta-rasaṁ jyotiṣṭvāyopakalpate
Deprived of its quality of aroma by the wind, the element earth is transformed into water; and water, deprived of its taste by that same wind, is merged into fire.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam gives several descriptions of the material creation, by which air is expanded from ether, fire from air, water from fire, and earth from water. Now, in the reverse order, the creation is wound up. Thus earth merges back into the water from which it came, and water similarly merges into fire.
FAQs
This verse explains a sequence of elemental transformation: when earth loses its defining quality (fragrance), it becomes water; when water loses its defining quality (taste), it becomes fire/light—showing how elements change when their characteristic qualities are withdrawn.
King Yadu inquired about the Avadhuta’s wisdom, and the Avadhuta taught him tattva—how material nature functions—so Yadu could develop discrimination and detachment from changing material states.
It trains one to see that material identities are unstable—when defining “qualities” change, the condition changes—so a seeker learns not to anchor happiness in temporary attributes and instead to pursue the unchanging Self and devotion to Bhagavān.