These elements are the ether, air, fire, water, and earth. Their attributes are sound, touch, vision, taste and smell. Every one of these elements possesses the attributes and the attributes of things that come to it. Therefore the earth is the foremost of all, possessing as it does the attributes of all the other four. Thus say the Rishis who know the truth.
भूमिरापस्तथा वायुरग्निराकाशमेव च। गुणोत्तराणि सर्वाणि तेषां भूमिः प्रधानतः॥ शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गन्धश्च पञ्चमः। प्रोक्ता ऋषिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः॥