Shloka 24
Adhyāya 302: Guṇa-vicāra, Gati-bheda, and the Imperishable State
Yājñavalkya–Janaka
भूतसर्गमहड्कारात् तृतीयं विद्धि पार्थिव । अहड्कारेषु सर्वेषु चतुर्थ विद्धि वैकृतम्
bhūtasargamahaṅkārāt tṛtīyaṁ viddhi pārthiva | ahaṅkāreṣu sarveṣu caturthaṁ viddhi vaikṛtam, pṛthvīnatha ||
ବସିଷ୍ଠ କହିଲେ— “ହେ ପାର୍ଥିବ, ଅହଂକାରରୁ ଯେ ସୃଷ୍ଟି ଉଦ୍ଭବ ହୁଏ, ତାହାକୁ ତୃତୀୟ ସର୍ଗ ବୋଲି ଜାଣ; ସେଠାରୁ ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମ ଭୂତମାନଙ୍କର ସୃଷ୍ଟି ପ୍ରବାହିତ ହୁଏ। ଏବଂ ହେ ପୃଥ୍ୱୀନାଥ, ସାତ୍ତ୍ୱିକ, ରାଜସ ଓ ତାମସ—ଅହଂକାରର ସମସ୍ତ ରୂପରୁ ଯେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ସୃଷ୍ଟି ଜନ୍ମେ, ତାହାକୁ ଚତୁର୍ଥ ‘ବୈକୃତ-ସର୍ଗ’ ବୋଲି ବୁଝ।”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse maps creation in Sāṅkhya terms: from ahaṅkāra arises the emanation of subtle elements (a ‘third’ creation), and from the differentiated modes of ahaṅkāra—sāttvika, rājasa, and tāmasa—arises the ‘vaikṛta’ (derivative/modified) creation. The ethical thrust is that understanding the mind’s ego-principle as a cosmic process helps loosen personal identification and supports detachment and liberation.
In Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Vasiṣṭha instructs a king on metaphysical doctrine. Here he classifies stages of creation, naming the third as the element-emanation from ahaṅkāra and the fourth as the vaikṛta creation produced through the three guṇa-conditioned forms of ahaṅkāra.