TEXT 13
rajah-pradhanan mahatas
tri-lingo daiva-coditat
jatah sasarja bhutadir
viyad-adini pancasah
SYNONYMS
rajah-pradhanatin which the element of rajas, or passion, predominates; mahatahfrom the mahat-tattva; tri-lingahof three kinds; daiva-coditatimpelled by superior authority; jatahwas born; sasarjaevolved; bhuta-adihthe false ego (origin of the material elements); viyatthe ether; adinibeginning with; pancasahin groups of five.
TRANSLATION
As impelled by the destiny of the jiva, 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 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 tan-matra, 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.

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