Shloka 1

Adhyāya 42 — Mahābhūta–Indriya–Adhyātma-Vyavasthā

Brahmā’s Instruction on Elements and Faculties

Devanagari script

ऑपनआक्राता बछ। अं द्विचत्वारिशोड ध्याय: अहंकारसे पञज्च महाभूतों और इन्द्रियोंकी सृष्टि

Transliteration

brahmovāca—ahaṅkārāt prasūtāni mahābhūtāni pañca vai | pṛthivī vāyur ākāśam āpo jyotiś ca pañcamam ||

Translation

Brahmā said: “From ego-sense (ahaṅkāra) arise indeed the five great elements—earth, wind, space, water, and as the fifth, fire/light.” In this teaching, cosmology is set forth as an ethical-spiritual map: by understanding how the world of elements emerges from the inner principle of ‘I’-making, one is guided toward detachment and the path of withdrawal (nivṛtti) from identification with the material constituents of experience.

Word by Word

• अहंकारात्: from ego-principle (ahaṅkāra)
• अहंकारात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहंकार
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• प्रसूतानि: born/produced
• प्रसूतानि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रसू
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural, Past passive participle (क्त)

• महाभूतानि: the great elements
• महाभूतानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभूत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• पृथिवी: earth
• पृथिवी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वायुः: wind/air
• वायुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आकाशम्: ether/space
• आकाशम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• ज्योतिः: light/fire (tejas)
• ज्योतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पञ्चमम्: the fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• ahaṅkāra
• pañca mahābhūta
• pṛthivī
• vāyu
• ākāśa
• āpaḥ
• jyotiḥ

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a causal hierarchy: the five gross elements are said to arise from ahaṅkāra (ego-sense). Spiritually, it encourages seeing the material world as derivative of inner identification, supporting detachment and the nivṛtti (withdrawal) orientation.

What is happening in the narrative?

A doctrinal discourse is underway: Brahmā is presented as instructing sages about creation—specifically the emergence of the five great elements—within a broader teaching that also addresses adhyātma/adhibhūta perspectives and the path of renunciation.