The mixing element, which is known as time, is counted as the twenty-fifth element

Expressions researched:
"mixing element"

SB Canto 3

All these are considered the qualified Brahman. The mixing element, which is known as time, is counted as the twenty-fifth element.

SB 3.26.15, Translation and Purport:

All these are considered the qualified Brahman. The mixing element, which is known as time, is counted as the twenty-fifth element.

According to the Vedic version there is no existence beyond Brahman. Sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma (Chāndogya Upaniṣad 3.14.1). It is stated also in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa that whatever we see is parasya brahmaṇaḥ śaktiḥ; everything is an expansion of the energy of the Supreme Absolute Truth, Brahman. When Brahman is mixed with the three qualities goodness, passion and ignorance, there results the material expansion, which is sometimes called saguṇa Brahman and which consists of these twenty-five elements. In the nirguṇa Brahman, where there is no material contamination, or in the spiritual world, the three modes—goodness, passion and ignorance—are not present. Where nirguṇa Brahman is found, simple unalloyed goodness prevails. Saguṇa Brahman is described by the Sāṅkhya system of philosophy as consisting of twenty-five elements, including the time factor (past, present and future).

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

The kāla is via media

Lecture on SB 3.26.15 -- Bombay, December 24, 1974:

Nitāi: "All these are considered the qualified Brahman. The mixing element, which is known as time, is counted as the twenty-fifth element."

Prabhupāda:

etāvān eva saṅkhyāto

brahmaṇaḥ saguṇasya ha

sanniveśo mayā prokto

yaḥ kālaḥ pañca-viṁśakaḥ

(SB 3.26.15)

So saṅkhyāta, saṅkhyāyati iti sāṅkhya. This is Sāṅkhya philosophy, to know analytical study of the whole cosmic manifestation. That is called Sāṅkhya philosophy. It is physical. And the kāla is via media. And then the soul and the Supersoul. So if we understand thoroughly this analytical study of the whole thing, then we know Sāṅkhya philosophy, saṅkhyāta, Sāṅkhya, in its numerical count.