FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.20.13

रज:प्रधानान्महतस्त्रिलिङ्गो दैवचोदितात् । जात: ससर्ज भूतादिर्वियदादीनि पञ्चश: ॥ १३ ॥
rajaḥ-pradhānān mahatas
[rajah-pradhaanaan mahatas]
tri-liṅgo daiva-coditāt
[tri-lingo daiva-choditaat]
jātaḥ sasarja bhūtādir
[jaatah sasarja bhootaadir]
viyad-ādīni pañcaśaḥ
[viyad-aadeeni panchashah]
Word-for-word
rajaḥ-pradhānāt — in which the element of rajas, or passion, predominates mahataḥ — from the mahat-tattva tri-liṅgaḥ — of three kinds daiva-coditāt — impelled by superior authority jātaḥ — was born sasarja — evolved bhūta-ādiḥ — the false ego (origin of the material elements) viyat — the ether ādīni — beginning with pañcaśaḥ — in groups of five.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rajaḥ-pradhānān mahatas
rajaḥ-pradhānāt
in which the element of rajas, or passion, predominates
mahataḥ
from the mahat-tattva
tri-liṅgo daiva-coditāt
tri-liṅgaḥ
of three kinds
daiva-coditāt
impelled by superior authority
jātaḥ sasarja bhūtādir
jātaḥ
was born
sasarja
evolved
bhūta-ādiḥ
the false ego (origin of the material elements)
viyad-ādīni pañcaśaḥ
viyat
the ether
ādīni
beginning with
pañcaśaḥ
in groups of five.
As impelled by the destiny of the jīva, the false ego, which is of three kinds, evolved from the mahat-tattva, in which the element of rajas predominates. From the ego, in turn, evolved many groups of five principles.
Purport

The primordial matter, or prakṛti, material nature, consisting of three modes, generates four groups of five. The first group is called elementary and consists of earth, water, fire, air and ether. The second group of five is called tan-mātra, referring to the subtle elements (sense objects): sound, touch, form, taste and smell. The third group is the five sense organs for acquiring knowledge: eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. The fourth group is the five working senses: speech, hands, feet, anus and genitals. Some say that there are five groups of five. One group is the sense objects, one is the five elements, one is the five sense organs for acquiring knowledge, another is the senses for working, and the fifth group is the five deities who control these divisions.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
From mahat-tattva in the mode of rajoguṇa, arose ahaṅkāra with its three guṇas by the instigation of the Lord. From this arose the five gross elements, the five tan-mātras, the five action and five knowledge senses and their devatās. Mahat-tattva is initially predominantly in sattva, but at the time of producing ahaṅkāra, it becomes predominated by rajas. This form of mahat-tattva is called sūtra. Ahaṅkāra (bhūtādiḥ) has three guṇas. Viyad-ādīni means gross elements, and then the subtle elements or tanmātras such as sound, the knowledge senses, the action senses, and their devatās, all in groups of five.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The scale of the creation in this verse is not given to overwhelm us but to right-size us. Most of our anxiety shrinks when our self-importance shrinks. The verse keeps returning to false ego.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have you been demanding outcomes from a system you did not design?
  • How could awe of the creation become a daily practice and not just a Sunday feeling?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 20