Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 14
Sāṅkhya Enumeration of Tattvas, Distinction of Puruṣa–Prakṛti, and the Mechanics of Birth and Death
पुरुष: प्रकृतिर्व्यक्तमहङ्कारो नभोऽनिल: । ज्योतिराप: क्षितिरिति तत्त्वान्युक्तानि मे नव ॥ १४ ॥
puruṣaḥ prakṛtir vyaktam ahaṅkāro nabho ’nilaḥ jyotir āpaḥ kṣitir iti tattvāny uktāni me nava
J’ai décrit les neuf éléments fondamentaux : l’âme jouisseuse (puruṣa), la nature (prakṛti), la manifestation primordiale de la nature qu’est le mahat-tattva, le faux ego, l’éther, l’air, le feu, l’eau et la terre.
Prakṛti, or nature, is originally unmanifest and later becomes manifest as the mahat-tattva. Although the living entity is puruṣa, an enjoyer, the real process by which he can enjoy is by satisfying the transcendental senses of the Lord, just as the hand eats by supplying food to the stomach. Within material nature the living entity becomes a false enjoyer, forgetting his subservience to the Lord. The material elements as well as the living entity and the Supersoul are thus systematically analyzed to demonstrate to the conditioned soul his actual constitutional position beyond material nature.
FAQs
In 11.22.14, Lord Krishna lists nine tattvas: puruṣa, prakṛti, vyakta, ahaṅkāra, and the five gross elements—ether, air, fire, water, and earth.
Krishna instructs Uddhava to cultivate clear discrimination between spirit and matter; by understanding the building blocks of material experience, Uddhava can develop detachment and steady devotion.
Recognizing ahaṅkāra as a created principle helps one loosen rigid identity—reducing pride and anxiety—and supports humility, service, and devotion in daily relationships and work.