Shloka 13
Śuka’s Manifestation from the Araṇi (Āraṇeya-janma) — शुकजन्म (आरणेय-सम्भव)
राजेन्द्र! आकाश आदि पाँच महाभूतोंमें क्रमश: शब्द, स्पर्श, रूप, रस और गन्ध--ये विशेष गुण हैं ।।
Yājñavalkya uvāca: Rājendra! ākāśādi pañca mahābhūteṣu kramaśaḥ śabdaḥ sparśaḥ rūpaṃ rasaḥ gandhaś ca—ete viśeṣa-guṇāḥ. Yair āviṣṭāni bhūtāni ahany ahani pārthiva, anyonyaṃ spṛhayanti ete anyonyasya hite ratāḥ. Pṛthvīnātha! pravāha-rūpeṇa sadā vidyamāneṣu manohareṣu śabdādi-viṣayeṣv āviṣṭāḥ sarve prāṇinaḥ pratidinaṃ kadācit anyonyaṃ kāṅkṣanti, kadācit paraspara-hita-sādhane tatparā bhavanti, kadācit anyonyaṃ nīcīkartuṃ ceṣṭante, kadācit īrṣyāṃ kurvanti, kadācit parasparaṃ praharanti ca.
Yājñavalkya berkata: “Wahai raja! Dalam lima mahābhūta bermula dengan angkasa, sifat-sifat khas muncul menurut tertib—bunyi, sentuhan, rupa, rasa, dan bau. Terjerat olehnya, makhluk-makhluk hari demi hari, wahai penguasa bumi, saling merindui dan juga berusaha demi kebajikan sesama. Namun, wahai tuan tanah negeri, terpukau oleh objek-objek indera yang mempesona ini—yang sentiasa hadir bagaikan arus yang tidak putus—para makhluk setiap hari kadang-kadang saling mengingini, kadang-kadang berikhtiar untuk manfaat bersama, kadang-kadang cuba merendahkan satu sama lain, kadang-kadang terbakar oleh iri hati, dan kadang-kadang bahkan saling memukul.”
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse explains that beings are driven by the specific qualities of the five elements as they appear as sense-objects (sound, touch, form, taste, smell). Captivation by these produces a repeating cycle of attraction and cooperation, but also rivalry, jealousy, and violence—showing why mastery over the senses is central to ethical life and inner peace.
In a didactic dialogue within the Śānti Parva, the sage Yājñavalkya addresses a king and analyzes everyday social behavior. He traces shifting human relations—desire, mutual help, belittling, envy, and aggression—to the constant stream of sensory experience that overwhelms living beings.