Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 19

Sāṅkhya Enumeration of Tattvas, Distinction of Puruṣa–Prakṛti, and the Mechanics of Birth and Death

Devanagari script

सप्तैव धातव इति तत्रार्था: पञ्चखादय: । ज्ञानमात्मोभयाधारस्ततो देहेन्द्रियासव: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

saptaiva dhātava iti tatrārthāḥ pañca khādayaḥ jñānam ātmobhayādhāras tato dehendriyāsavaḥ

Translation

Nach manchen Philosophen gibt es sieben Elemente: Erde, Wasser, Feuer, Luft und Äther, dazu die bewusste Einzelseele und der Paramatma, der sowohl die materiellen Elemente als auch die gewöhnliche Seele trägt. Nach dieser Lehre entstehen Körper, Sinne, Lebenshauch und alle materiellen Erscheinungen aus diesen sieben.

Synonyms

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे (numeral used adjectivally: “seven”)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis “only/indeed”)

• धातवः: elements
• धातवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• तत्र: therein
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb “there/in that context”)

• अर्थाः: objects/categories
• अर्थाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे (numeral used adjectivally: “five”)

• खादयः: ether etc. (the five elements)
• खादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख-आदि (प्रातिपदिक: ख + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural); समासः तत्पुरुषः (खादयः = ख-आदि-भूतानि/तन्मात्राणि; “ether etc.”)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• आत्म: self
• आत्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (as member in compound)

• उभयाधारः: the support of both
• उभयाधारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभय-आधार (प्रातिपदिक: उभय + आधार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative singular); समासः तत्पुरुषः (उभयस्य आधारः)

• ततः: thereafter/from that
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थक (ablatival adverb “thereafter/from that”)

• देह: body
• देह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (as member in compound)

• इन्द्रिय: sense organ
• इन्द्रिय: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (as member in compound)

• असवः: vital airs (together with body and senses)
• असवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural); समासः द्वन्द्वः (देह+इन्द्रिय+असवः = body, senses, and vital airs)

Purport

Having explained His own viewpoint, the Lord now summarizes various other analytic methodologies.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the five elements and the Self?

This verse states that the five gross elements beginning with space are counted among the fundamental constituents, but the Self (ātmā) is the underlying support, from which the body, senses, and vital airs functionally arise.

Why did Krishna explain these elements to Uddhava in the Uddhava Gita?

Krishna instructs Uddhava in discriminating knowledge (tattva-viveka) so he can see the body and its functions as products of elements, while recognizing the ātmā as the true support—helping detach from matter and progress toward liberation and devotion.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Treat the body, senses, and even mental knowing as instruments arising from nature, and regularly center identity in the Self under Krishna’s guidance—reducing anxiety and strengthening steady bhakti practice.