संसारे संसरन्तीह यावन्तः प्राणिनश्च ते
All the living beings who wander here in samsara,
ऋषीणां तद्वचः श्रुत्वा मरुतो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Hearing those words of the sages, the Maruts spoke.
चक्षुषा वै प्रसंख्यातुमतो ह्यन्ते न च द्विजाः
By the eye, indeed, the enumeration is made, O twice-born, but not at the end.
ब्रह्मणा संज्ञितं यत्तु संख्यया तन्निबोधत
Now hear what has been designated by Brahma, that which is by number.
पार्थिवाः कृमयस्तावत्संसेकाद्येषु संभवः
Earthly worms are as many as are produced in moist places.
औदका जन्तवः सर्वे निश्चयात्तन्निधार्यताम्
All aquatic creatures, certainly, let that be understood with certainty.
विहङ्गमास्तु विज्ञेया लौकिकास्ते च सर्वशः
Birds, too, should be known—all those of the world, entirely.
पशवस्तत्समा ज्ञेया लौकिकास्तु चतुष्पदाः
Cattle should be known as equal in number to them, and the four-footed worldly animals.
द्विपदास्तत्सहस्रेण संमिता धार्मिकाः पुनः
The bipeds, again, are reckoned as a thousandfold of those righteous ones.
यः सहस्रतमो भागो धार्मिकाणां भवेद्दिवि
That which is the thousandth part among the righteous ones is found in heaven.
स्वर्गोपपादकैस्तुल्या यातनास्थानवासिनः
Those who dwell in the places of torment are comparable to those who attain heaven.
रौरवे तमसि ह्येते शीतोष्णं प्राप्नुवन्ति ते
Indeed, in Raurava and in darkness, they experience both cold and heat.
उष्णस्तु रौरवो ज्ञेयस्तेजोघोररसात्मकः
Know that Raurava is hot, consisting of fierce and terrible energy.
एवं सुदुर्लभाः संतः स्वर्गे वा धार्मिका नराः
Thus, righteous men are extremely rare, whether in heaven or on earth.
गणाना दिनिवृत्तैषा संख्या ब्राह्मी त्वमानुषी
This count of days for the hosts is Brahmic, but you should know the human reckoning.
उक्ता ह्येते त्वया लाका लाकानामन्तरण च
You have indeed described these worlds and the intervals between the worlds.
स वायुर्दृष्टतत्त्वार्थ इदं तत्त्वमुवाच ह
That wind, having perceived the true meaning, spoke this truth.
व्यक्तं तर्केण पश्यन्ति योगात्प्रत्यक्षदर्शिनः
Those who see directly through yoga perceive clearly by reasoning.
ऋभुः सनत्कुमाराद्याः संबुद्धाः शुद्धबुद्धयः
Ṛbhu, Sanatkumāra, and others, awakened and pure in understanding,
अक्षयाः प्रीतिसंयुक्ता ब्राह्मे तिष्ठन्ति योगिनः
The yogis, endowed with unending joy, abide in the Brahmic state.
यथात्रैव सया दृष्टं सांनिध्यं तत्र कुर्वता
Just as presence is seen here, so it is established there.
ईश्वरः परमाणुत्वाद्भावग्राह्यो मनीषिणाम्
The Lord, being subtler than the atom, is grasped by the wise through their understanding.
द्रष्टृत्वमात्मसंबन्धमधिष्टातृत्वमेव च
He is the seer, related to the self, and indeed the ruler.
विभुत्वात्खलु योगाढ्यो ब्रह्मणो ऽनुग्रहे रतः
By his pervasiveness, he is rich in yoga and delights in the grace of Brahman.
अक्षरं ध्रुवमव्यग्रमष्टमं त्वौपसर्गिकम्
The eighth, which is imperishable, constant, and unwavering, is considered secondary.
मायया कृतमाचष्टे मायी देवो महेश्वरः
The god Maheśvara, the wielder of illusion, declares what is fashioned by illusion.
विस्तरेणानुपूर्व्या च ब्रुवतो मे निबोधत
Listen as I recount to you in detail and in order.
भूलोकाद्ब्रह्मलोको वै योजनैः संप्रकीर्त्यते
From the earthly world up to Brahmaloka, the distances are measured in yojanas.
ऊर्द्ध्व भागवतो ऽडं तु ब्रह्मलोकात्परं स्मृतम्
Above is the Bhāgavata realm, said to be beyond Brahmaloka.
नित्या ह्यपरिसंक्षाताः परस्परगुणाश्रयात्
They are eternal, truly immeasurable, due to mutual dependence on each other's qualities.