Shloka 313
Adhyāya 42 — Mahābhūta–Indriya–Adhyātma-Vyavasthā
Brahmā’s Instruction on Elements and Faculties
अधिकभूतं तु मन्तव्यं ब्रह्मा तत्राधिदेवतम् । पाँच इन्द्रियों और छठे मनको जाननेवाली बुद्धिको अध्यात्म कहते हैं। मन्तव्य उसका अधिभूत और ब्रह्मा उसके अधिदेवता हैं
adhikabhūtaṃ tu mantavyaṃ brahmā tatrādhidevatam | pañcendriyāṇi ca ṣaṣṭhaṃ manaś ca jānātī yā buddhiḥ sā adhyātmaṃ ucyate | mantavyaṃ tasyādhibhūtaṃ brahmā tasyā adhidevatā ||
风神婆由说道：“当知‘所当思惟之境’属于阿底部陀（adhibhūta）——具身之元素与对象之域；而梵天（Brahmā）为其主宰的阿底提婆塔（adhidevatā）。那能了知五根，并以心为第六而统摄之辨慧（buddhi），名为阿底耶特摩（adhyātma）——内在灵性之理。对这内在之理而言，‘可思之境’即其阿底部陀之相，而梵天则为其阿底提婆塔。”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse maps inner experience to a threefold framework: adhyātma (the inner principle, here identified with the intellect that understands the senses and mind), adhibhūta (the realm of objects—what is to be contemplated), and adhidevatā (the presiding divine principle), naming Brahmā as the adhidevatā in this context. The ethical implication is disciplined discernment: know the faculties, know their objects, and recognize the governing order behind them.
Vāyudeva is instructing the listener in a doctrinal classification used in Mahābhārata’s spiritual discourse—distinguishing the inner self-domain (adhyātma), the objective/elemental domain (adhibhūta), and the divine presiding domain (adhidevatā)—to guide correct contemplation and understanding.