Before creation, when all things were consumed by the fire of dissolution, the world lay in a state of utter destruction. In that vast ocean, where the wind from the mountain joined those remnants, the mountains themselves—though moving with the earth—were called immovable by the sages. Then, the Lord lifted up the earth from the waters, and, making the uneven places level with rocks, He formed the mountains, arranging them so that just as many stood at the end of each region. The seven continents and oceans encircled one another, creating the structure of the world. The four worlds, beginning with Bhū, along with the moon, sun, and planets, were established. For this cycle, Brahmā created the stationary gods, and brought forth heaven, the directions, the oceans, all the rivers, and the mountains. He also created moments, sticks, fractions, hours, junctions, nights, and days, along with those who preside over places and the places themselves, each separately. The Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Tishya ages, as well as the yuga, were set in motion. Those beings previously mentioned, from the earlier cycle, who had not attained the world of asceticism, remained on earth. They stayed to observe, again for the purpose of creation. Here, those who accomplished dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa are remembered. Then, endowed with austerity, they filled the places in ancient times. Through actions joined with attachment and aversion, they went to heaven, and by the remainder of their own karma’s fruits, they became renowned as those of that nature. He who is the cause among the waters, making them aware through action—he is indeed that one. These beings took on bodies of various forms within different wombs, and their actions, for the most part, were pure. Again and again, in each cycle, they were born with names and forms. As the Lord meditated, those beings came forth, for He truly willed their birth. These people were born, endowed with abundant goodness and great energy. Yet, all of them, dominated by passion, were vigorous and irascible. Those increased by the practice of passion and darkness became known as householders. Among those who were about to die, both the deceitful and the honest were born. From then on, in this cycle, the origin of sexual union arose. The pure objects of sense, such as sound and the rest, each possessed five characteristics. Thus, those who were born in succession filled this world. Yet, because of their little satisfaction, they wandered in conflict. Moving according to desire, those beings sought the perfection of the mind. At that time, at the beginning of the cycle in the first age, righteousness and unrighteousness did not exist. There were four thousand years, counted in divine measure. After that, when the people became renowned here, they numbered in the thousands. They dwelled on mountains and in the oceans, and were without fixed abodes. Ever free to act as they wished, they lived with joyful hearts. There was neither fear nor harshness; such was the practice of dharma in those days.