Shloka 16
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Renunciation, Austerities, Departure, and the Glory of Hearing His History
खान्याकाशे द्रवं तोये यथास्थानं विभागश: । क्षितिमम्भसि तत्तेजस्यदो वायौ नभस्यमुम् ॥ १६ ॥
khāny ākāśe dravaṁ toye yathā-sthānaṁ vibhāgaśaḥ kṣitim ambhasi tat tejasy ado vāyau nabhasy amum
Thus, according to the respective positions of the body’s parts, Mahārāja Pṛthu merged the sense openings into ākāśa (ether) and the bodily liquids—blood and other secretions—into the totality of water, each in its proper place. Then he merged earth into water, water into fire, fire into air, and air into ether, and so on, in due order.
In this verse two words are very important: yathā-sthānaṁ vibhāgaśaḥ. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Second Canto, Fifth Chapter, Lord Brahmā clearly explained to Nārada how the creation took place, and he explained one step after another the proper divisions of the senses, the controller of the senses, the objects of the senses, and the material elements, and he also explained how they are created one after another: the air from the sky, the fire from the air, the water from the fire, the earth from the water, etc. It is important to know thoroughly the process of creation as it applies to this cosmic manifestation. Similarly, this body is also created according to the same process by the Supreme Lord. The Personality of Godhead, after entering the universe, creates the cosmic manifestations one after another. Similarly, the living entity, after entering a womb of a mother, also collects his gross and subtle bodies, taking ingredients from the totality of sky, air, fire, water and earth. The words yathā-sthānaṁ vibhāgaśaḥ indicate that one should know the process of creation and should meditate upon the creative process inversely and thus become free from material contamination.
FAQs
This verse describes the step-by-step merging of gross elements: earth into water, water into fire, fire into air, and air into ether—each returning to its subtler source in proper order.
He uses the dissolution sequence to illustrate detachment and the temporary nature of the material body and world, supporting the narrative theme of Pṛthu Mahārāja’s withdrawal from worldly life toward spiritual realization.
Remembering that the body and possessions are made of temporary elements helps reduce anxiety and attachment, encouraging steadier devotion, simpler living, and focus on the eternal self and Bhagavān.