Ahaṃkāra as the Second Creation: Brahmā’s Cosmological Instruction (अहंकार-प्राधान्येन सृष्टिवर्णनम्)
भस्न्ैमा रन () अमसन- एकचत्वारिशो< ध्याय: अहंकारकी उत्पत्ति और उसके स्वरूपका वर्णन ब्रह्मोवाच य उत्पन्नो महान् पूर्वमहंकार: स उच्यते । अहमित्येव सम्भूतो द्वितीय: सर्ग उच्यते
brahmovāca—maharṣayaḥ, ya utpanno mahān pūrvam ahaṃkāraḥ sa ucyate | aham ity eva sambhūto dvitīyaḥ sarga ucyate ||
Brahmā dit : «Ô grands sages, ce ‘Mahān’ primordial (le Grand Principe) qui surgit le premier est ce qu’on appelle ahaṃkāra, le principe du moi. Lorsqu’il se manifeste précisément comme le sentiment de “je” — comme “aham” — cette émergence est décrite comme la seconde création.»
वायुदेव उवाच
The passage distinguishes cosmic principles in creation: the primordial ‘Mahān’ is identified with ahaṃkāra, and when it specifically takes the form of the explicit ‘I’-sense (aham), that manifestation is termed the ‘second creation’ (dvitīya sarga).
A doctrinal discourse is underway: Brahmā addresses the assembled seers and explains the origin and nature of ahaṃkāra within a staged account of creation (sarga), moving from the primordial principle to the individualized ‘I’-sense.