Vishva

[3] The word (विश्व) (vishva) appears in the Rig Veda, for example, Rishi Dirghatamas (R.V.I.146.1) states:- that just as the seven bright rays of the sun and the brightness of Agni light up the entire world of inanimate and animate objects, so do the learned people with their wisdom gracefully illuminate the minds of all beings for mutual benefits.

In the Āgama Prakarana of his Karika on the Mandukya Upanishad Gaudapada explains that in the three states of consciousness, the one and the same object of experience and the experiencer appears in three-fold forms (त्रिधा भोगं) as – विश्व (vishva) ('gross'), तैजस (taijasa) ('subtle') and प्राज्ञ (prajna) ('the blissful').

He states that vishva the first among the three states and first in the three-lettered "aum" is "a" the means to cognize its all-pervasiveness, it pervades all thought and speech and makes even words lose their distinct identity in a harmonious whole like the whole which is like the ākāsha same everywhere.

vishva, taijasa and prajna, these three padās ('quarters') which serve as means, are merged before the fourth, turiya, is realized.

The derivatives of pronominal stems – "ta"- which is demonstrative, "ya"- which is relative, and "ka"- which is interrogative, morph as comparative and superlative adjectives and serve as pronouns.