Shloka 5

Dharma, Purity, and the Inner Purpose of the Vedas

Karma-kāṇḍa Reoriented to Bhakti

Devanagari script

भूम्यम्ब्वग्‍न्यनिलाकाशा भूतानां पञ्चधातव: । आब्रह्मस्थावरादीनां शारीरा आत्मसंयुता: ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

bhūmy-ambv-agny-anilākāśā bhūtānāṁ pañca-dhātavaḥ ā-brahma-sthāvarādīnāṁ śārīrā ātma-saṁyutāḥ

Translation

地、水、火、风与虚空，是五大元素，构成一切受缚众生之身，从梵天乃至不动之类皆然；而此诸元素皆由唯一的至上人格神——薄伽梵——所流出。

Synonyms

• bhūmi: earth
• bhūmi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) (member of dvandva list)

• ambu: water
• ambu: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) (member of dvandva list)

• agni: fire
• agni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) (member of dvandva list)

• anila: wind/air
• anila: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) (member of dvandva list)

• ākāśāḥ: ether/space
• ākāśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) (member of dvandva list)

• bhūtānām: of beings
• bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pañca-dhātavaḥ: the five elements
• pañca-dhātavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate-nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द) + dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); dvigu compound meaning ‘five elements’

• ā: up to
• ā: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā (अव्यय)
• Form: Preverb/particle indicating limit ‘up to’ (आ-उपसर्ग/निपात)

• brahma: Brahmā/Brahman (here: Brahmā)
• brahma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Indeclinable stem used in compound (समासाङ्ग)

• sthāvara-ādīnām: of the immobile beings etc.
• sthāvara-ādīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāvara (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘of immovables and others’

• śārīrāḥ: embodied/constituting bodies
• śārīrāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śārīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying pañca-dhātavaḥ

• ātma-saṁyutāḥ: joined with the self (ātmā)
• ātma-saṁyutāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + saṁ-√yuj (युज्) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); past participle ‘joined with’ in tatpuruṣa ‘joined with self’

Purport

All material bodies are composed of different proportions of the same five gross elements, which emanate from the one Personality of Godhead and cover the living entities, who are all in the jīva category.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava
• Brahmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the five elements (pañca-bhūta)?

This verse states that all bodies are constituted of five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and ether—regardless of species, from Brahmā to immovable beings.

Why did Krishna explain the five elements to Uddhava in the Uddhava Gita?

Kṛṣṇa teaches Uddhava analytical knowledge (sāṅkhya) to help him discern the temporary material body from the eternal ātmā, strengthening detachment and devotion.

Practical application of understanding body and soul in modern life?

Seeing the body as a temporary combination of elements helps reduce anxiety and ego, encouraging steadiness, ethical living, and deeper spiritual practice centered on the self and devotion to Kṛṣṇa.