Adhyāya 42 — Mahābhūta–Indriya–Adhyātma-Vyavasthā
Brahmā’s Instruction on Elements and Faculties
अधिभूतं च कर्माणि शक्रस्तत्राधिदेवतम् । अध्यात्मतत्त्वको जाननेवाले पुरुष दोनों हाथोंको अध्यात्म बतलाते हैं। कर्म उनके अधिभूत और इन्द्र उनके अधिदेवता हैं
adhibhūtaṃ ca karmāṇi śakrastatrādhidaivatam | adhyātmatattvako jānanevāle puruṣa dvau hastau adhyātmaṃ batalāte haiṃ | karma teṣāṃ adhibhūtaṃ indra teṣām adhidaivatam ||
Dijo Vāyu: «Las acciones (karma) han de entenderse como adhibhūta, el ámbito de los fenómenos materiales perecederos; y en ese ámbito Śakra (Indra) es la adhidevatā, la deidad reguladora. Quienes conocen la verdad del Sí mismo explican que las dos manos pertenecen al adhyātma, el principio interior. Así, los actos caen en el campo material, mientras Indra se alza como su supervisor divino.»
वायुदेव उवाच
The verse classifies experience into domains: the inner self (adhyātma), the material/phenomenal field where actions occur (adhibhūta), and the divine presiding power over that field (adhidaivata), here identified as Indra. Ethically, it frames action as operating within a governed cosmic order, while true understanding begins from the inner spiritual standpoint.
Vāyu is instructing the listener in a doctrinal mapping of body, action, and divine governance—explaining how certain bodily faculties (the two hands) are viewed in adhyātma terms, while deeds belong to the adhibhūta sphere and are overseen by Indra as adhidevatā.