Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 19
नास्त्यण्डमस्ति तु ब्रह्मा स राजा लोकभावन: । इत्युक्त: स तदा तूष्णीमभूद् वायुस्ततो<5ब्रवीत्
nāsty aṇḍam asti tu brahmā sa rājā lokabhāvanaḥ | ity uktaḥ sa tadā tūṣṇīm abhūd vāyus tato 'bravīt ||
“There is no such thing as an ‘egg’ (as a real, independent entity); yet Brahmā exists—he, the kingly creator and sustainer of the worlds.” When this was said, Kārtavīrya Arjuna fell silent. Then the Wind-god (Vāyu) spoke to him again, pressing the discussion forward toward a clearer understanding of creation and causality.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts a rejected literal cosmological object (“aṇḍa,” the cosmic egg) with the affirmed principle of a creator (Brahmā) as the effective cause of the worlds, steering the listener from crude imagery to a more principled account of origination.
A claim is made that the ‘cosmic egg’ is not a real entity, yet Brahmā exists as world-producer. Kārtavīrya Arjuna becomes silent in response, and Vāyu resumes the dialogue, indicating an ongoing debate or instruction about creation.