The Tatvas
Skandha XI. Chap. 22
Uddhava asked: — “How many Tatvas (elemental principles) are there? The Rishis give the number differently.”
Sri Krishna replied: —
“The discussion about the number is useless. The principles are interpenetrating. Their order and their number are therefore differently understood.”
Uddhava asked: —
“Prakriti and Purusha though different by themselves are interdependent. They are never seen separately. Âtmâ is seen in Prakriti (body) and Prakriti is seen in Âtmâ (Where is then the difference between body and Âtmâ?)
“This is my doubt.”
Sri Krishna replied: —
“Prakriti and Purusha are essentially different.”