Shloka 47
Brahmā’s Creation: The Kumāras, Rudra, the Prajāpatis, and the Manifestation of Vedic Sound
स्पर्शस्तस्याभवज्जीव: स्वरो देह उदाहृत । ऊष्माणमिन्द्रियाण्याहुरन्त:स्था बलमात्मन: । स्वरा: सप्त विहारेण भवन्ति स्म प्रजापते: ॥ ४७ ॥
sparśas tasyābhavaj jīvaḥ svaro deha udāhṛta ūṣmāṇam indriyāṇy āhur antaḥ-sthā balam ātmanaḥ svarāḥ sapta vihāreṇa bhavanti sma prajāpateḥ
ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਦੀ ਜੀਵ-ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਸਪਰਸ਼ ਅੱਖਰਾਂ ਵਜੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਹੋਈ, ਉਸ ਦਾ ਦੇਹ ਸਵਰ ਅੱਖਰ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ। ਊਸ਼ਮ ਅੱਖਰ ਉਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀਆਂ, ਅੰਤਹਸਥ ਅੱਖਰ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਤਾਕਤ; ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਵਿਹਾਰ ਕ੍ਰਿਆ ਤੋਂ ਸੰਗੀਤ ਦੇ ਸੱਤ ਸੁਰ ਉਤਪੰਨ ਹੋਏ।
In Sanskrit there are thirteen vowels and thirty-five consonants. The vowels are a, ā, i, ī, u, ū, ṛ, ṝ, ḷ, e, ai, o, au, and the consonants are ka, kha, ga, gha, etc. Amongst the consonants, the first twenty-five letters are called the sparśas. There are also four antaḥ-sthas. Of the ūṣmas there are three s ’s, called tālavya, mūrdhanya and dantya. The musical notes are ṣa, ṛ, gā, ma, dha, and ni. All these sound vibrations are originally called śabda-brahma, or spiritual sound. It is said, therefore, that Brahmā was created in the Mahā-kalpa as the incarnation of spiritual sound. The Vedas are spiritual sound, and therefore there is no need of material interpretation for the sound vibration of the Vedic literature. The Vedas should be vibrated as they are, although they are symbolically represented with letters which are known to us materially. In the ultimate issue there is nothing material because everything has its origin in the spiritual world. The material manifestation is therefore called illusion in the proper sense of the term. For those who are realized souls there is nothing but spirit.
FAQs
This verse links cosmic creation with śabda (sound): sound is described as the “body,” and specific groups of letters are associated with senses and inner strength, indicating that speech and vibration are foundational creative principles arising from Brahmā.
In this section on creation, he shows how subtle principles manifest in ordered categories—speech (letters), sensory powers, inner vitality, and even musical tones—illustrating a structured unfolding of the universe from Prajāpati (Brahmā).
It highlights the sanctity of sound: by using speech and hearing for mantra, kīrtana, and śāstra-śravaṇa, one aligns the senses with their higher purpose and turns vibration into devotion.