Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 34
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
अहंकारात् तु सम्भूतो महाभूतकृतो गुण: । पृथक्त्वेन हि भूतानां विषया वै गुणा: स्मृता:
ahaṅkārāt tu sambhūto mahābhūtakṛto guṇaḥ | pṛthaktvena hi bhūtānāṃ viṣayā vai guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ ||
અહંકારમાંથી તે ગુણતત્ત્વ ઉત્પન્ન થાય છે, જે પંચ મહાભૂતોને પ્રગટ કરે છે. અને ભૂતોના વિષયો—રૂપ, રસ વગેરે—જ અલગ-અલગ રીતે ‘ગુણ’ તરીકે સ્મૃત છે।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a Sāṅkhya-style account: from ahaṅkāra (the ego-principle) arises that which generates the five great elements, and the so-called ‘guṇas’ are understood here as the distinct sense-objects associated with those elements (e.g., form, taste, etc.). This supports ethical detachment by showing that sensory experience is a product of cosmic principles rather than the true Self.
Vāyudeva is instructing the listener in a philosophical explanation of creation and perception, clarifying how egoity leads to the manifestation of the elements and how each element is known through its particular sense-object.