prakr̥tērmahāṁstatō'haṅkārastasmādgaṇaśca ṣōḍaśakaḥ। tasmādapi ṣōḍaśakātpañcabhyaḥ pañca bhūtāni ॥22॥
From the manifested material universe (prakr̥ti) comes the great (mahan); from the great comes the ego (ahaṅkāraḥ); then from ego the set of sixteen. From that sixteen, specifically from the five, comes five elements.
Four stage evolution of 24 principles is described:
- Step 01: manifested material universe (prakr̥ti) to the great (mahan)
- Step 02: the great (mahan) to ego (ahaṅkāraḥ)
- Step 03: ego (ahaṅkāraḥ) to set of 16 (11 indriyas + 5 sensations)
- Step 04: 5 sensations to 5 elements