इति होवाच भगवान्वायुर्वाक्यमिदवरम्
Thus spoke the venerable Vāyu this excellent statement.
ब्रह्मणः स्थितिकाले तु क्षीणे तस्मिंस्तदा प्रभोः
But when the period of Brahmā's maintenance comes to an end, at that time, O Lord—
अव्यक्तं ग्रसते व्यक्तं प्रत्याहारे च कृत्स्नशः
The unmanifest absorbs the manifest entirely during the cosmic retraction.
उपस्थिते महाघोरे ह्यप्रत्यक्षे तु कस्यचित्
When that great and terrible time arrives, unseen by anyone—
अन्ते कलियुगे तस्मिन्क्षीणे संहार उच्यते
At the end of the Kali Yuga, when it is exhausted, that is called dissolution.
प्रत्याहारे तदा तस्मिन्भूततन्मात्रसंक्षये
Then, at that retraction, with the destruction of the elements and their subtle forms—
स्वभावकारिते तस्मिन्प्रवृत्ते प्रतिसंचरे
When that process of return, brought about by inherent nature, has commenced—
आत्तगन्धा ततो भूमिः प्रलयत्वाय कल्पते
Then the earth, having lost its fragrance, is prepared for dissolution.
आपस्तदा प्रविष्टास्तु वेगवत्यो महास्वनाः
At that time, the waters, rushing and resounding greatly, enter in.
अपामपि गणो यस्तु ज्योतिःष्वालीयते रसः
And the portion of water whose essence is drawn into fire—
तीव्रतेजोहृतरसाज्योतिष्ट्वं प्राप्नुवन्त्युत
Losing their essence to the intense fire, they indeed attain the state of fire.
अथाग्निः सर्वतो व्याप्त आदत्ते तज्जलं तदा
Then fire, pervading everywhere, consumes that water.
अर्चिर्भिः संतते तस्मिंस्तर्यगूर्ध्वमधस्ततः
With its flames extended in all directions—across, above, and below—
प्रलीयते तदा तस्मिन्दीपार्चिरिव मारुते
Then, in that fire, it is dissolved like a lamp's flame in the wind.
उपशाम्यति तेजो हिवायुराधूयते महान्
Then the fire is extinguished, and the great wind carries it away.
ततस्तु मूलमासाद्य वायुः संबन्धमात्मनः
Then, reaching its source, the wind merges with its own essence.
वायोरपि गुणं स्पर्शमाकाशं ग्रसते च तत्
Even the quality of air, which is touch, is absorbed by space.
अरूपमरसस्पर्शमगन्धं न च मूर्तिमत्
It is without form, taste, touch, or scent, and does not possess any tangible shape.
तस्मिंल्लीने तदा शिष्टमाकाशं शब्दलक्षणम्
When it is dissolved, then what remains is space, characterized by sound.
तत्र शब्दं गुमं तस्य भूतदिर्ग्रसते पुनः
There, the quality of sound is again absorbed by the elemental principle.
अभिमानात्मको ह्येष भूतादिस्तामसः स्मृतः
This elemental principle is said to be of the nature of ego and is remembered as tamasic.
महानात्मा तु विज्ञेयः संकल्पो व्यवसायकः
The great self should be understood as the faculty of determination and resolve.
पर्यायवाचकैः शब्दैस्तमाहुस्तत्त्व चिन्तकाः
Those who contemplate the principles call it by various synonymous words.
लीयन्ते गुणसाम्यं तु स्वात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते
The equilibrium of qualities merges and remains established in its own self.
इत्येष संयमश्चैव तत्त्वानां कारणैः सह
Thus, this restraint of the principles occurs together with their causes.
धर्माधर्मौं तपो ज्ञानं शुभं सत्यानृते तथा
Righteousness and unrighteousness, austerity, knowledge, auspiciousness, truth and untruth likewise,
सर्वमेतत्प्रपञ्चस्थं गुणमात्रात्मकं स्मृतम्
All this, existing in the manifest world, is remembered as being of the nature of qualities alone.
प्रकृत्यां चैव तत्सर्वं पुण्यं पापं प्रतिष्ठति
And in primordial nature, all this—merit and sin—finds its foundation.
जन्तूनां पापपुण्यं तु प्रकृतौ यत्प्रतिष्ठितम्
The merit and sin of creatures, whatever is established in nature,
योजयन्ते पुनर्देहान्परत्वेन तथैव च
They again join bodies, and likewise, in a transcendent manner.