766 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 20
that Visnu is the cause of creation. From Bhagavad-gita also we learn that
prakrti begins to work and is still working under Krgna’s or Visnu’s glance
of superintendence, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is unchange-
able. One should not misunderstand that because the creation emanates
from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He has therefore transformed
into this material cosmic manifestation. He exists in His personal form
always, but the cosmic manifestation takes place by His inconceivable
potency. The workings of that energy are difficult to comprehend, but it is
understood from Vedic literature that the conditioned soul creates his own
destiny and is offered a particular body by the laws of nature under the
superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always
accompanies him as Paramatma.
TEXT 13
a a
TMTATHEA aR | FATT |
BA: TA MATTE TT: 12M
rajah-pradhanan mahatas
trilingo daiva-coditat
jatah sasarja bhitadir
viyad-adini paiicasah
rajas-pradhanat—in which the element of rajas, or passion, predomi-
nates; mahatah—from the mahat-tattva; tri-lingah—of three kinds; daiva-
coditat—impelled by superior authority; jatah—was born; sasarja—evolved;
bhiita-adih—the false ego (origin of the material elements); viyat—the
ether; ddini—beginning with; paricasah—in groups of five.
TRANSLATION
As impelled by the destiny of the jiva, the false ego, which is of three
kinds, has evolved from the mahat-tattva, in which the element of rajas pre-
dominates. From the ego, in turn, evolved many groups of five principles.
PURPORT
The primordial matter or prakrti, 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 tanmatra, referring to the subtle elements (sense objects): sound,
