Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.10.15
आद्यस्तु महत: सर्गो गुणवैषम्यमात्मन: ।
द्वितीयस्त्वहमो यत्र द्रव्यज्ञानक्रियोदय: ॥ १५ ॥
ādyas tu mahataḥ sargo
[aadyas tu mahatah sargo]
guṇa-vaiṣamyam ātmanaḥ
[guna-vaishamyam aatmanah]
dvitīyas tv ahamo yatra
[dviteeyas tv ahamo yatra]
dravya-jñāna-kriyodayaḥ
[dravya-jnaana-kriyodayah]
Word-for-word
ādyaḥ
—
the first
tu
—
but
mahataḥ
—
of the total emanation from the Lord
sargaḥ
—
creation
guṇa-vaiṣamyam
—
interaction of the material modes
ātmanaḥ
—
of the Supreme
dvitīyaḥ
—
the second
tu
—
but
ahamaḥ
—
false ego
yatra
—
wherein
dravya
—
material ingredients
jñāna
—
material knowledge
kriyā-udayaḥ
—
awakening of activities (work).
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ādyas tu mahataḥ sargo
ādyaḥ
the first
tu
but
mahataḥ
of the total emanation from the Lord
sargaḥ
creation
guṇa-vaiṣamyam ātmanaḥ
guṇa-vaiṣamyam
interaction of the material modes
ātmanaḥ
of the Supreme
dvitīyas tv ahamo yatra
dvitīyaḥ
the second
tu
but
ahamaḥ
false ego
yatra
wherein
dravya-jñāna-kriyodayaḥ
dravya
material ingredients
jñāna
material knowledge
kriyā-udayaḥ
awakening of activities (work).
Of the nine creations, the first one is the creation of the mahat-tattva, or the sum total of the material ingredients, wherein the modes interact due to the presence of the Supreme Lord. In the second, the false ego is generated, in which the material ingredients, material knowledge and material activities arise.
Purport
The first emanation from the Supreme Lord for material creation is called the mahat-tattva. The interaction of the material modes is the cause of false identification, or the sense that a living being is made of material elements. This false ego is the cause of identifying the body and mind with the soul proper. Material resources and the capacity and knowledge to work are all generated in the second term of creation, after the mahat-tattva. Jñāna indicates the senses which are sources of knowledge, and their controlling deities. Work entails the working organs and their controlling deities. All these are generated in the second creation.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The first creation is the creation of the mahat-tattva, or the sum total of the material ingredients, in which there is disturbance of the guṇas causes by the Lord. The second is the creation of the false ego, from which the five gross elements, knowledge sense, sense devatās, mind and the action senses are generated.
Starting with this verse the rest of the chapter is a description of the various creations. The first is the imbalance of the guṇas characterized by the appearance of mahat-tattva, instigated by the Lord (ātmanaḥ). The second creation that in which there is the appearance of ahaṅkāra (ahamaḥ), from which arises the five gross elements (dravya), the knowledge senses, sense devatās and mind (jñāna), and the action senses (kriya).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse describes layered cosmic machinery — modes, elements, governing demigods — to remind us that even our 'private' lives are arranged by larger hands. The pivot here is false ego.
Reflection Questions
- What would change in your prayer if you remembered how small your sphere actually is?
- How could awe of the creation become a daily practice and not just a Sunday feeling?
My note
Source: vedabase.io