When creatures are destroyed it is into these that they merge; and when they are born, it is again from them that they do so. Indeed, after destruction, a creature resolves itself into those five elements.
अभावं यान्ति तेष्वेव तेभ्यश्च प्रभवन्त्यपि। विनष्टोऽप्यनु तान्येव जन्तुर्भवति पञ्चधा॥