विज्ञाता न च दृश्येत वृथक्त्वेनेह सर्वशः
The knower is not seen as entirely separate here.
प्रकृतौ कारणे तत्र स्वात्मन्येवोपतिष्ठति
In nature and in the cause, it abides only in its own self.
एकत्वं वा पृथक्वं वा क्षेत्रज्ञः पुरुषो ऽपि वा
Whether unity or diversity, whether the knower of the field or the person,
कर्त्ता वा सो ऽप्यकर्त्ता वा भोक्ता वा भोज्यमेव च
Whether as agent or non-agent, as enjoyer or as the object of enjoyment,
अवाच्यं तदनाख्यानादग्राह्यं वादहेतुभिः
It is unspeakable, because it cannot be named or grasped by arguments.
नालप्य वचसा तत्त्वमप्राप्य मनसा सह
The truth cannot be expressed in words, nor attained by the mind together.
व्यपेतसुखदुःखे च निरुद्धे शान्तिमागते
When pleasure and pain have ceased, and tranquility has arisen with all being restrained,
एतौ संहारविस्तारौ व्यक्ताव्यक्तौ ततः पुनः
These two—dissolution and expansion—manifest as the manifest and the unmanifest, and then again,
क्षेत्रज्ञाधिष्ठितं सर्वं पुनः सर्गे प्रवर्त्तते
All is governed by the knower of the field, and once more, at creation, it proceeds forth.
अनादिमांश्च संयोगो महापुरुषजः स्मृतः
The union, said to arise from the Great Person, is without beginning and without end.
पूर्वं हि तस्यैव च बुद्धिपूर्वं प्रवर्त्तते तत्पुरुषार्थंमेव
Indeed, at first, it proceeds from his own intellect, and only for the sake of that Purusha.
अनाद्यनन्ता ह्यभिमानपूर्वकं वित्रासयन्ती जगदभ्युपैति
Endless and beginningless, preceded by self-conceit, it pervades the world, causing fear.
उक्तो ह्यस्मिंस्तदात्यन्तं कालं ज्ञात्वा प्रमुच्यते
When this has been thoroughly explained, knowing the ultimate time, one is released.
विस्तरेणानुपूर्व्याच भूयः किं वर्त्तयाम्यहम्
Having described it in detail and in order, what more should I now relate?
प्रजानां मनुभिः सार्द्धं देवानामृषिभिः सह
Together with the Manus among the peoples, and with the gods and the sages,
दैत्यानां दानवानां च यक्षाणामेव पक्षिणाम्
With the Daityas, Dānavas, Yakṣas, and even the birds,
विचित्राश्च कथायोगा जन्म चाग्र्यमनुत्तमम्
And the wondrous combinations of stories, and the supreme, unsurpassed birth,
मनः कर्णसुखं सौते प्रीणात्यमृतसन्निभम्
O Sauti, pleasing to the mind and ear, like nectar, it delights.
पप्रच्छुः सत्त्रिणः सर्वे पुनः सर्गप्रवर्त्तनम्
All the participants of the sacrifice again asked about the process of creation.
बन्धेषु संप्रलीनेषु गुणसाम्ये तमोमये
When all are dissolved in bondage, in the darkness of the equilibrium of the qualities,
अप्रवृत्ते ब्रह्मणा तु सहसा योज्यगैस्तदा
When Brahmā had not yet begun to act, then suddenly, with those to be joined,
एवमुक्तस्ततः सूतस्तदासौ लोमहर्षणः
Thus addressed, then the Sūta, Lomaharṣaṇa, at that time,
अत्र वो वर्त्तयिष्यामि यथा सर्गः प्रपत्स्यते
Here I shall tell you how creation will unfold,
दृष्टेनैवानुमेयं च तर्कं वक्ष्यामि युक्तितः
I shall explain, by reasoning, what is to be inferred from what is seen.
अव्यक्त वत्परोक्षत्वाद्गहनं तद्दुरासदम्
Because it is unmanifest and beyond perception, it is profound and difficult to approach.
प्रधानं पुरुषाणां च साधर्म्येणैव तिष्ठति
Pradhāna and the puruṣas remain only by virtue of their similarity.
सत्त्वमात्रात्मको धर्मो गुणे सत्त्वे प्रतिष्ठितः
The essential nature of dharma is solely sattva, and it is established in the quality of sattva.
अविभागेन तावेतौ गुणसाम्ये स्थितावुभौ
These two remain undivided, both abiding in the equilibrium of the guṇas.
बुद्धिपूर्वं क्षेत्रज्ञ अधिष्ठास्यति तान्गुणान्
The knower of the field, preceded by intellect, will preside over those guṇas.
यदा प्रवर्त्तितव्यं तु क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर् द्वयोः
When action is to be initiated by both the field and the knower of the field,