Canto 3 Chapter 26
Fundamental Principles of Material Nature
Section I - 3.26.1-2 Kapiladev describes the
benefits of hearing the subject matter of sankhya
1-2 – Benefits: a) Freedom from modes b) Self-
realization c) Cutting the knot of attachment
Section II - 3.26.3-8 Jiva-Prakrti-Purusa
interaction and characteristics
3 – Characteristics of Purusa – The Lord
4 – Interaction of the Lord with Prakrti
5-7 – Interaction of Jiva with the prakrti.
Step-1 – Jiva becomes bewildered seeing
the various forms offered by the prakrti
Step-2 – The bewildered jiva thinks that
he is the doer because of identification
with prakrti
Step-3 – This misconception leads to his
bondage and repeated birth and death
8 – Prakrti is the cause of jiva’s actions and the
Lord is the cause of the results of his actions
Section III 3.26.9-14 Characteristics and
products of Pradhana
9 – Devahuti: Describe more about the
characteristics of prakrti and purusha
10 – Kapiladev: 4 Characteristics of Pradhana
11-14 – Products of Pradhana:
a) 5 gross elements
b) 5 Tan matras
c) 10 Senses
d) 4 Antah karana (mind, intelligence,
false ego and citta)
Section IV 3.26.15-18 Characteristics of time
15 – I have enumerated the 24 elements. Time
is the 25th element
16-17 – Two characteristics of time:
a) Instigator of fear in Jivas
b) Agitator of gunas in prakrti
18 – The same Lord who exists internally as the
paramatma exists as time externally
Section V 3.26.19-22 Creation and characteristics
of Mahat Tattva (MT)
19 – After the pradhana is agitated by time,
the Lord impregnates it with the jivas and it
gives rise to MT
20 – This MT consumes the darkness of
dissolution through its effulgence
21-22 – Characteristics of MT and Citta, which is a
representation of MT in the body of the jiva
Section VI - 3.26.23-26 Creation and characteristics
of False Ego (FE)
23-24 – MT transforms into FE which is of 3 types
– Sattviki, Rajasik and Tamasik
25 – Presiding deity of FE is Sankarsana
26 – Characteristics of FE
Section VII - 3.26.27-49 Creation and characteristics
of products of FE
27-28 – a) From FE in sattva appears mind
b) 2 characteristics of mind
c) Presiding deity of mind is Aniruddha
29-30 – a) From FE in Rajas appears buddhi
b) 7 characteristics of buddhi
31 – From FE in Rajas also appear 10 senses
32-46 – Transformation of FE in Tamas:
Sound------Ether------Touch------Air------Form
Earth------Smell------Water-------Taste-----Fire
 Characteristics of all the elements and tan
matras
47-49 – a) Unique quality of each elements
b) The previous quality is the cause of
the succeeding element
Section VIII - 3.26.50-53 Karya Srsti
50-53 – a) When all the elements were separate,
the Lord combines them with His cohesive energy
b) He then enters into the lifeless universe as
Garbodhakasayi Visnu and gives it life
 c) This gives rise to the universal form which is
covered outside by 7 layers
d) Variety of planetary systems form the various limbs
of this universal form

Section IX - 3.26.54-61 Creation of the various

limbs of the Virat Rupa (VR)

54-61 – Various limbs of the VR form in the

following order:
Gross organ ------- Subtle organ + Sense Devata

Section X - 3.26.62-72 Devatas try to wake up this

Virata Rupa

62 – The devatas could not wake up the VR. The

again entered the apertures one after another to
wake Him up

63-69 – The devatas entered the respective

apertures of the VR along with the subtle sense
organ in order to try and wake up the VR. But
they were unsuccessful

70 – But when Vasudeva entered the heart along

with the Citta, the VR rose up from water
71 – Similarly the pranas, mind and intelligence
cannot wake up a sleeping individual without the
intervention of the Supreme Lord
72 – Goal of explaining the analysis of
elements: To contemplate on the Supreme Lord
with ahaituki bhakti