AVG 1.3

Chapter 1 (Guidance on self-realization): Verse 3

न पृथ्वी न जलं नाग्निर्न वायुर्द्यौर्न वा भवान् ।
एषां साक्षिणमात्मानं चिद्रूपं विद्धि मुक्तये ॥ १-३॥

Transliteration:
न पृथ्वी न जलम् न अग्निरः न वायुः न द्यौः न वा भवान् ।
na pṛthvī na jalam na agniraḥ na vāyuḥ na dyauḥ na vā bhavān ।
एषाम् साक्षिणम् आत्मानं चिद्रूपम् विद्धि मुक्तये ॥ १-३॥
eṣām sākṣiṇam ātmānaṃ cidrūpam viddhi muktaye ॥ 1-3॥

Meaning:
न (not) पृथ्वी (earth) न (not) जलम् (water) न (not) अग्निरः (fire) न (not) वायुः (wind) न (not) द्यौः (space) न (not) वा (but) भवान् (you [are])।
एषाम् (all of these) साक्षिणम् (the witness of) आत्मानं (yourself) चिद्रूपम् (identity with pure thought/consciousness) विद्धि (to know) मुक्तये (for liberation)॥ १-३॥

Purport:
You are not of earth, nor of water
not of fire, nor of wind
not are you of vacuous space;
but, to realize liberation,
know yourself to be the witness
of all of these
in identity with pure thought.

Comment: Given that all manifest forms (both sentient and non-sentient) are aggregations of interactional energy fields limited by temporality, your identity with any one of the elements of earth, water, fire, air or space is not tenable. To become aware of this temporality and the impermanence thereof is a step towards attaining liberation.