Shloka 36
भूतेन्द्रियाणां हेतुः स त्रिगुणत्वान् महामुने यथा प्रधानेन महान् महता स तथावृतः
bhūtendriyāṇāṃ hetuḥ sa triguṇatvān mahāmune yathā pradhānena mahān mahatā sa tathāvṛtaḥ
O great sage, being constituted of the three guṇas, he becomes the causal ground of the elements and the senses; and just as Mahat is veiled by Pradhāna, so too is he, in the same manner, enveloped by Mahat.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How the three-guṇa constitution of Ahaṃkāra becomes the cause of bhūtas and indriyas, and how each tattva is enveloped by its antecedent
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: revealing
Creation Stage: Primary
Concept: Ahaṃkāra, being tri-guṇic, functions as the causal ground of elements and senses, while remaining ‘covered’ by Mahat just as Mahat is covered by Pradhāna.
Vedantic Theme: Maya
Application: Use the notion of ‘āvaraṇa’ (covering) to observe how deeper conditioning hides subtler awareness; practice inward inquiry and devotion to the indwelling Lord to pierce layers of obscuration.
Vishishtadvaita: The world’s causal chain is not independent: each layer is supported and pervaded, aligning with the doctrine of the Lord as antaryāmin sustaining tattvas from within.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Antaryamin: Yes
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
The verse links triguṇa-nature to causality: through sattva, rajas, and tamas the chain of manifestation proceeds, yielding the senses and the elements within creation.
Parāśara presents a layered cosmology where Mahat arises in relation to Pradhāna and is described as being ‘covered’ by it—indicating dependence and concealment within the unfolding of tattvas.
Even while using Sāṅkhya-style categories (Pradhāna, Mahat, guṇas), the Purāṇic intent is that the supreme sovereignty behind these processes is Vishnu, the ultimate ground in whom cosmic evolution is ordered.