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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 18

Sāṅkhya Enumeration of Tattvas, Distinction of Puruṣa–Prakṛti, and the Mechanics of Birth and Death

व्यक्तादयो विकुर्वाणा धातव: पुरुषेक्षया । लब्धवीर्या: सृजन्त्यण्डं संहता: प्रकृतेर्बलात् ॥ १८ ॥

vyaktādayo vikurvāṇā dhātavaḥ puruṣekṣayā labdha-vīryāḥ sṛjanty aṇḍaṁ saṁhatāḥ prakṛter balāt

当以大我(mahat-tattva)为首的物质要素发生变异时,因至上主的一瞥而获得各自的特定势能;随后在自然之力的凝聚下,它们合和而生出宇宙之卵。

व्यक्तादयःthe manifest etc. (principles)
व्यक्तादयः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootव्यक्त-आदि (प्रातिपदिक: व्यक्त + आदि)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural); समासः तत्पुरुषः (व्यक्तादयः = व्यक्त-आदि-तत्त्वानि)
विकुर्वाणाःtransforming, modifying
विकुर्वाणाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootवि+कृ (धातु)
Formवर्तमान कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन
धातवःelements
धातवः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootधातु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (Nominative plural)
पुरुषेक्षयाby the glance of the Puruṣa
पुरुषेक्षया:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष-ईक्षा (प्रातिपदिक: पुरुष + ईक्षा)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषस्य ईक्षया)
लब्धवीर्याःhaving obtained potency
लब्धवीर्याः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootलभ् (धातु) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त); ‘लब्ध’ + ‘वीर्य’ समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (वीर्यं लब्धं येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन
सृजन्तिcreate
सृजन्ति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootसृज् (धातु)
Formलट् (वर्तमानकाल); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (Present indicative, 3rd pl, Parasmaipada)
अण्डम्the cosmic egg
अण्डम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootअण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)
संहताःunited, combined
संहताः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसम्+हन् (धातु)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन
प्रकृतेःof prakṛti
प्रकृतेः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive singular)
बलात्by the force (due to the power)
बलात्:
Hetu (हेतु/अपादान-प्राय)
TypeNoun
Rootबल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचन (Ablative singular)
K
Kṛṣṇa
U
Uddhava
P
Puruṣa
P
Prakṛti

FAQs

This verse explains that the material elements transform and gain creative power under the glance of the Supreme Person (Puruṣa), then combine by the force of Prakṛti to produce the universal egg (aṇḍa).

To show that matter does not become creative independently—its potency is activated by the Supreme Lord’s supervision, after which nature’s modes drive the elements to combine and manifest the cosmos.

Recognize that material energy works under higher control; cultivate devotion and responsibility by aligning your actions with the Lord’s will rather than assuming matter and ego are the ultimate causes.