FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.46

భావనం బ్రహ్మణ: స్థానం ధారణం సద్విశేషణమ్ । సర్వసత్త్వగుణోద్భేద: పృథివీవృత్తిలక్షణమ్ ॥ ౪౬ ॥
bhāvanaṁ brahmaṇaḥ sthānaṁ
[bhaavanam brahmanah sthaanam]
dhāraṇaṁ sad-viśeṣaṇam
[dhaaranam sad-visheshanam]
sarva-sattva-guṇodbhedaḥ
[sarva-sattva-gunodbhedah]
pṛthivī-vṛtti-lakṣaṇam
[prithivee-vritti-lakshanam]
bhāvanam — modeling forms brahmaṇaḥ — of the Supreme Brahman sthānam — constructing places of residence dhāraṇam — containing substances sat-viśeṣaṇam — distinguishing the open space sarva — all sattva — of existence guṇa — qualities udbhedaḥ — the place for manifestation pṛthivī — of earth vṛtti — of the functions lakṣaṇam — the characteristics.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
bhāvanaṁ brahmaṇaḥ sthānaṁ
bhāvanam
modeling forms
brahmaṇaḥ
of the Supreme Brahman
sthānam
constructing places of residence
dhāraṇaṁ sad-viśeṣaṇam
dhāraṇam
containing substances
sat-viśeṣaṇam
distinguishing the open space
sarva
all
sarva-sattva-guṇodbhedaḥ
sattva
of existence
guṇa
qualities
udbhedaḥ
the place for manifestation
pṛthivī-vṛtti-lakṣaṇam
pṛthivī
of earth
vṛtti
of the functions
lakṣaṇam
the characteristics.
The characteristics of the functions of earth can be perceived by modeling forms of the Supreme Brahman, by constructing places of residence, by preparing pots to contain water, etc. In other words, the earth is the place of sustenance for all elements.

Different elements, such as sound, sky, air, fire and water, can be perceived in the earth. Another feature of the earth especially mentioned here is that earth can manifest different forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By this statement of Kapila’s it is confirmed that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Brahman, has innumerable forms, which are described in the scriptures. By manipulation of earth and its products, such as stone, wood and jewels, these forms of the Supreme Lord can be present before our eyes. When a form of Lord Kṛṣṇa or Lord Viṣṇu is manifested by presentation of a statue made of earth, it is not imaginary. The earth gives shape to the Lord’s forms as described in the scriptures.

In the Brahma-saṁhitā there is description of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lands, the variegatedness of the spiritual abode, and the forms of the Lord playing a flute with His spiritual body. All these forms are described in the scriptures, and when they are thus presented they become worshipable. They are not imaginary as the Māyāvāda philosophy says. Sometimes the word bhāvana is misinterpreted as “imagination.” But bhāvana does not mean “imagination”; it means giving actual shape to the description of Vedic literature. Earth is the ultimate transformation of all living entities and their respective modes of material nature.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The qualities of earth are its use in production of deity forms, its steadiness, its accommodating power, its ability to make other elements perceptible, and its power to manifest differences in all beings and their qualities. The qualities of earth are described. It is used in creation of forms (bhāvanam) of the Lord. It remains in one condition, indifferent to the qualities of other objects such as water. It is the container for water. It is the cause of distinguishing other elements such as sky. We perceive ether because of contamination of earth or we perceive air because of contamination with dust. It causes manifestation with distinctions in all living beings and their qualities such as maleness etc.
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