Markandeyapurana 45.55

45.55

tasmāccaturguṇā hyāpo vijñeyāstā rasātmikāḥ /
śabdaḥ sparśaśca rūpañca raso gandhaṃ samāviśat //

Ether has the element[24] of sound only. When the element of touch accrued, Air comes into existence with two properties[25]; touch is known to he its peculiar property. Moreover, when to form accrued both the properties, sound and touch, then Eire also came into existence with its three[26] properties; it has sound and touch and form. Sound, and touch and form,—when the element of taste accrued to them, then Water wūth its four properties came into existence; it is to he known as being characterized by taste. Sound and touch and form and taste, when smell accrued, they consolidated with the element of smell enclosed this Earth; hence earth has five properties; it is seen to be the gross one among created things.