अत्र ते वर्णयिष्यामि शृणु पार्थ पुरातनम् पृष्टो यदुत्तरं प्रादादृषिभ्यस्तन्मया श्रुतम्
Here I shall describe to you, O Partha, the ancient account; listen—what answer was given to the sages when asked, that I have heard.
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं सर्वाशुभविनाशनम्
It is auspicious, brings fame, grants longevity, and destroys all misfortune.
एकात्मकं त्रिदैवत्यं चतुःपंचसुलक्षणम्
It is of one essence, threefold in divinity, and marked by four and five distinguishing features.
एक एव जगद्योनिः प्रतियोनिषु संस्थितः
There is but one source of the universe, present in every individual origin.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुर्वृषांकश्च त्रयो देवाः सतां मताः
Brahma, Vishnu, and the Bull-bannered (Shiva)—these three are regarded as gods by the virtuous.
प्रक्रिया चानुषंगश्च उपोद्धातस्तथैव च 4.2.
The process, the sequence, and likewise the introduction—
तर्कश्च प्रतिसर्गश्च वंशो मन्वन्तराणि च
Reasoning, secondary creation, genealogy, and the cycles of Manus—
एष वक्तव्यविषयः सुमहान्प्रतिभाति मे
This subject to be spoken of appears to me exceedingly vast.
महदादिविशेषान्तं सवैरूप्यं सलक्षणम्
From the great principle down to the particular, with all their distinctions and characteristics—
अव्यक्ताज्जायते बुद्धिर्महानिति च सा स्मृता
From the unmanifest arises intellect, which is thus remembered as the great principle.
तन्मात्राणि च पञ्चाहुरहङ्काराच्च सात्त्विकात्
And from the sattvic aspect of ego, they say, arise the five subtle elements.
जलमूर्तिमये विष्णौ नष्टे स्थावरजंगमे
When Vishnu, in the form of water, was lost, all that is stationary and moving perished.
सृष्ट्यां शक्त्या च निर्भिन्नं तदण्डमभवद्द्विधा
By the power of creation, that cosmic egg was split in two.
उल्बं तस्याभवन्मेरुर्जरायुः पर्वताः स्मृताः
From its membrane arose Meru; its amnion is said to be the mountains.
योजनानां सहस्राणि षोडशाधः प्रतिष्ठित भूमिपंकजविस्तीर्णा कर्णिका मेरुरुच्यते
Sixteen thousand yojanas below is established the lotus-earth, spread wide; its pericarp is called Meru.
आदित्यश्चादिदेवत्वात्तत्राभूत्त्रिगुणात्मकः रुद्रोऽपराह्णसमये स एवैकस्त्रिधामतः ।। 4.2.
The Sun, being the primal deity, appeared there, possessed of the three qualities; and Rudra, at the time of afternoon, is that very one, manifest in three forms.
प्रातः प्रजापतेर्जाता मुनयो नव मानवाः भृगुर्वशिष्ठ इत्यष्टौ नारदो नवमः स्मृतः
In the morning, nine sages, the sons of Manu, were born from Prajāpati; eight are named as Bhṛgu and Vasiṣṭha, and Nārada is remembered as the ninth.
नव ब्रह्माण इत्येष पुराणे निश्चयः स्मृतः
These nine are called Brahmās; this is the established conclusion in the Purāṇas.
वामा प्रसूतिरुदगादंगुष्ठात्तौ च दंपती सृष्टिं प्रति समुद्युक्ता नारदेन महात्मना
Vāmā, his wife, was born from his thumb; the two, as husband and wife, were engaged in creation, along with the great-souled Nārada.
दक्षः क्षीणान्सुतान्वीक्ष्य जनयामास कन्यकाः
Seeing his sons diminished, Dakṣa began to produce daughters.
ददौ स दश धर्माय कश्यपाय त्रयोदश
He gave ten daughters to Dharma, and thirteen to Kaśyapa.
द्वे प्रादाद्बाहुपुत्राय द्वे कृशाश्वाय चैव हि
He gave two to Bāhuputra, and two indeed to Kṛśāśva.
एकां भृगोर्भवायैकां प्रादात्तेभ्यश्चराचरः
He gave one to Bhṛgu, and one to Bhava; from them arose all that moves and does not move.
वैराजमथ वैकुण्ठं केलासमिति नामतः
Then Vairāja, Vaikuṇṭha, and Kailāsa are named.
प्राचीदिक्क्रमयोगेन तेषां पार्श्वे पुरः स्मृताः
By the order of the eastern direction, their cities are remembered as being beside them.
हिमवान्हेमकूटश्च निषधो मेरुरेव च जम्बूद्वीपप्रमाणेन सहस्रगुणितं शतम् ।। 4.2.
Himavat, Hemakūṭa, Niṣadha, and Meru—each one, by the measure of Jambūdvīpa, is a hundred thousand times greater.
भिद्यते नवधा सोऽपि वर्षभेदेन भारत द्वीपाः सप्त समाख्याताः समुद्रे सप्तभिर्वृताः
O Bhārata, that too is divided into nine by region; seven continents are declared, surrounded by seven oceans.
क्षारक्षीरेक्षुसुरया दध्ना चैव घृतेन च
With salt, milk, sugarcane juice, wine, curds, and also with ghee.
भूर्लोकोऽथ भुवर्लोकः स्वर्महर्ज्जन इत्यपि
Bhūrloka, then Bhuvarloka, Svar, Mahar, and Janaloka as well.
महातलो भूमितलः सुतलो वितल स्ततः
Mahātala, Bhūmitala, Sutala, Vitala, and then Talātala.