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.
याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच—राजेन्द्र! आकाशादिषु पञ्चसु महाभूतेषु क्रमशः शब्दः स्पर्शो रूपं रसो गन्धश्चेति विशेषगुणा भवन्ति। एतैर्गुणैः प्रवाहरूपैर्नित्यं मनोहरैर्विषयैश्चाविष्टाः प्राणिनोऽह्न्यहनि, पार्थिव, कदाचिदन्योन्यं स्पृहयन्ति, कदाचिदन्योन्यस्य हिते रता भवन्ति, कदाचिदन्योन्यं तिरस्कर्तुं प्रयतन्ते, कदाचिद्द्वेषेण दह्यन्ते, कदाचित्परस्परं प्रहरन्त्यपि, पृथ्वीनाथ।
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.