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.
येभ्यो ऽधिकर्त्ता संजज्ञे क्षेत्रज्ञो ब्रह्मसंज्ञितः
From them arose the supreme agent, known as the Knower of the Field, called Brahman.
अनुत्पाद्यं परं धाम परमाणु परेशयम्
The supreme abode, atomic and the Lord of all, is unborn.
प्रादुर्भावस्तिरोभावः स्थितिश्चैवाप्यनुग्रहः
Manifestation, concealment, sustenance, and also grace—
सतेजा एष तमसो यः पुरस्तात्प्रकाशकः
He, endowed with radiance, is the one who illumines the darkness from the beginning.
बृहत्तु सर्वतो वृत्तमीश्वरात्तद्व्यजायते
That vast, all-encompassing sphere arises from the Lord.
योनिं प्रकृति माचष्टे सा च नारायणात्मिका
He declares Prakriti to be the womb, and she is of the nature of Nārāyaṇa.
सन्निसर्गः सतत्त्वाच्च लोकधातुर्महात्मनः
From the union and the true principle arises the world-structure of the Great Soul.
त्योर्मध्ये पुरं दिव्यं मन मयमनामयम्
Between those two is a divine city, made of mind, free from suffering.
शिवं नाम पुरं तत्र शरणं जन्मभीरुणाम्
There is a city called Śiva, a refuge for those afraid of birth.
अभ्यन्तरं तु विस्तीर्णं महीमण्डलसंस्थितम्
Within, it is vast, established upon a great circle of earth.