Ädyas tu mahataḥ sargo
guṇa-vaiá¹£amyam Ätmanaḥ
dvitīyas tv ahamo yatra
dravya-jñÄna-kriyodayaḥ
Ädyaḥ - the first; tu - but; mahataḥ - of the total emanation from the Lord; sargaḥ - creation; guṇa-vaiá¹£amyam - interaction of the material modes; Ätmanaḥ - of the Supreme; dvitÄ«yaḥ - the second; tu - but; ahamaḥ - false ego; yatra - wherein; dravya - material ingredients; jñÄna - material knowledge; kriyÄ-udayaḥ - awakening of activities (work).
The first emanation from the Supreme Lord for material creation is called the mahat-tattva. The interaction of the material modes is the cause of false identification, or the sense that a living being is made of material elements. This false ego is the cause of identifying the body and mind with the soul proper. Material resources and the capacity and knowledge to work are all generated in the second term of creation, after the mahat-tattva. JñÄna indicates the senses which are sources of knowledge, and their controlling deities. Work entails the working organs and their controlling deities. All these are generated in the second creation.