That, verily, is Brahman; that is the most excellent. That is, verily, Brahman; that is the most excellent. Therefore, of these five auxiliaries of Brahman, two rise as mothers: the Brahman and the Kṣatra.

The repetition “tad vai brahma, tat jyeṣṭham” is Vedic emphasis: that is Brahman, that is supreme.

The five auxiliaries are the five prāṇas (or the five senses, or the five elements). Of them, two “rise as mothers” (mātāraḥ upatiṣṭhete):

1. Brahman — the priesthood, knowledge
2. Kṣatra — the political-military power, force

These two sustain the cosmic social order, as mothers sustain their children. Knowledge without power is weak; power without knowledge is dangerous. Together, they represent totality.

For the yogī: the inner Brahman (knowledge) and the inner Kṣatra (energy) must be balanced. The prāṇa must have the wisdom of brahman and the force of kṣatra.