ग्रसते जायते लोकान्क्रीडार्थं तु महेश्वरः
Maheshvara devours and creates worlds for the sake of play.
पृथिवीं चांतरिक्षं च दिशश्च विदिशस्तथा
The earth, the atmosphere, and the directions, as well as the intermediate directions.
समुद्राणां च विस्तारं प्रमाणं च ततः शृणु
Now hear about the expanse and measurement of the oceans.
चतुष्पदानां द्विपदां तथा धर्मैकभाषिणाम् 2.1.2.
And likewise, about the four-footed creatures, the two-footed beings, and those who speak only of righteousness.
सहस्रगुणशीलाश्च इत्याह भगवान्मुनिः
The Blessed Sage declares that their virtues are a thousandfold.
तस्या ब्रह्मा प्रकृत्यास्तु उत्पन्नः सह विष्णुना
From her, by nature, Brahmā was born together with Viṣṇu.
तस्मात्स्वयंभुवो ब्रह्मा ब्राह्मणान्समकल्पयत्
From him, Svayambhuva Brahmā created the Brāhmaṇas.
चतुर्थ पादहीनांश्च आचारेषु बहिष्कृतान्
And those lacking the fourth foot were excluded from the practices.
लोकालोकस्य संस्था च द्वीपानामुदधेस्तथा
The arrangement of Lokāloka, and likewise of the continents and the ocean.
मेघस्तनितनिर्घोषरोहितेंद्रधनूंषि च
The sounds of thunderclouds, the rainbow in the sky as well.
उत्पन्नं तस्य देहेषु भूयः कालेन पीडयेत्
What arises in their bodies, in time, will again bring affliction.
पातालवर्णनम् कल्पाभिकरणे तत्र संस्थिता द्विजपुङ्गवाः
Description of Pātāla: There, at the time of the kalpa, the foremost twice-born are established.
जनलोको महर्लोकात्तथा कोटिद्वयात्मकः
Janaloka, beyond Maharloka, consists of two crores.
जनलोकात्तपोलोकः कोटित्रयसमन्वितः
Beyond Janaloka is Tapoloka, endowed with three crores.
प्राजापत्यात्तु भूर्लोकः कोटिषट्केन संयुतः
From the Prājāpatya comes Bhūrloka, joined with six crores.
तत्र लोके गुरुर्ब्रह्मा विश्वात्मा विश्वतोमुखः
In that world, the teacher is Brahmā, the soul of the universe, facing all directions.
गायंति यतयो गाथा ह्यास्तिका ब्रह्मवादिनः
There, ascetics sing verses—those who believe in existence and speak of Brahman.
द्वारं तु योगिनामेकं गच्छतां परमं पदम्
There is a single gateway for yogins who proceed to the supreme state.
सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशं पुरं तस्य दुरासदम्
A city there, shining like ten million suns, is difficult to approach.
तत्र नारायणस्यापि भवनं ब्रह्मणः पुरे
There, even Nārāyaṇa's abode is within the city of Brahmā.
स विष्णुर्लोककथितः पुनरावृत्तिवर्जितः 2.1.3.
That Vishnu, spoken of in the worlds, is free from return.
ऊर्ध्वं ब्रह्मासनात्पूर्वं परं ज्योतिर्मयं शुभम्
Above the seat of Brahma, there is the supreme, auspicious, radiant realm.
देव्या सह महादेवश्चिन्त्यमानो मनीषिभिः
With the goddess, Mahadeva is contemplated by the wise.
तत्र ते यांति नियता द्विजा वै ब्रह्मवादिनः
There, the twice-born, the speakers of Brahman, go with certainty.
निर्ममा निरहंकाराः कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः
Without possessiveness, without ego, free from desire and anger.
एते सप्त महर्लोकाः पृथिव्यां परिकीर्तिताः
These seven great worlds are renowned upon the earth.
महातलं हैमतलं सर्ववर्णोपशोभितम्
Mahātala and Hematala, adorned by all classes.
अनंतेन समायुक्तं मुचुकुन्देन धीमता
Joined with Ananta, and with the wise Mucukunda.
शैलं रसातलं विप्राः शांकरं हि रसातलम्
O Brahmins, Rasātala is a mountain, and Śaṃkara is indeed Rasātala.
सितं हि वितलं प्रोक्तं तलं चैव सितेतरम्
Vitala is said to be white, and there is another white realm.