Then Kabandhī, son of Kātyāyana, approached and asked: Lord, from where are these creatures born?

Once the year of preparation was completed, Kabandhī formulates the first question (praśna). His inquiry is fundamental: what is the origin of life, of the multiplicity of beings? This question has occupied philosophers and sages in all traditions.

Kabandhī’s question is not merely theoretical. He wants to understand the creative principle (prajā) that underlies all manifestation. In Sanskrit terminology, he seeks to understand Prajāpati, the Lord of creatures, the source of all existence.

For the yogī, this question has practical implications. If we understand from where we come, we can better understand where we are going. Knowledge of the origin is essential for knowledge of the final destination — liberation (mokṣa).

The formulation kutaḥ…prajāyante — “from where are they born?” — anticipates the answer that will link all origin to the fundamental duality of prāṇa (spirit/life) and rayi (matter/food).