Shloka 12
Adhyāya 42 — Mahābhūta–Indriya–Adhyātma-Vyavasthā
Brahmā’s Instruction on Elements and Faculties
एकादश च यान्याहुरिन्द्रियाणि विशेषतः । अहंकारात् प्रसूतानि तानि वक्ष्याम्यहं द्विजा:,द्विजवरो! अहंकारसे उत्पन्न हुई जो मनसहित ग्यारह इन्द्रियाँ बतलायी जाती हैं, उनका अब विशेषरूपसे वर्णन करूँगा, सुनो
ekādaśa ca yāny āhur indriyāṇi viśeṣataḥ | ahaṅkārāt prasūtāni tāni vakṣyāmy ahaṃ dvijāḥ ||
Vāyu dit : «Ô le meilleur des deux-fois-nés, je vais maintenant décrire en détail ces onze facultés—appelées plus particulièrement les sens, incluant le mental—que l’on dit issues de l’egoïté (ahaṅkāra). Écoute.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a Sāṅkhya-style analysis: the eleven faculties (ten senses plus mind) are presented as evolutes of ahaṅkāra. Ethically, this points to self-mastery—understanding the senses’ origin helps one restrain them and act with discernment rather than ego-driven impulse.
Vāyudeva addresses the dvijas and announces that he will give a detailed explanation of the eleven indriyas, emphasizing their emergence from ahaṅkāra. This serves as a transition into a systematic teaching about the inner instruments and their functions.