Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.22.21
Sarga· CreationFour Elements in One Account of Creation
“Some philosophers propose the existence of four basic elements, of which three — fire, water and earth — emanate from the fourth, the Self. Once existing, these elements produce the cosmic manifestation, in which all material creation takes place.”
What the purport teaches
- Some philosophers propose four basic elements: fire, water, earth and the Self.
- In this account, fire, water and earth emanate from the Self.
- Once existing, these elements produce the cosmic manifestation. All material creation takes place within that manifestation.
Try this today
Draw a simple sequence today: the Self; fire, water and earth; the cosmic manifestation.
Ask yourself
How does tracing the elements back to the Self help me think about the source of material creation?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.