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,
तस्मादक्षरमव्यक्तं साम्ये स्थित्वा गुणात्मकम्
Therefore, the imperishable, unmanifest, composed of guṇas, stands in equilibrium.
ततः प्रपत्स्यते व्यक्तं क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्द्वयोः
From that, the manifest arises, pertaining to both the field and the knower of the field.
महदाद्यं विशेषान्तं चतुर्विंशगुणात्मकम्
From the great principle to the particular, there are twenty-four entities composed of guṇas.
आदिदेवः प्रधानस्यानुग्रहाय प्रजक्षते
The primeval god is said to manifest for the favor of Pradhāna.
अनादिसंयोगयुतौ सर्वं क्षेत्रज्ञमेव च
Both, united from beginningless time, and all, are indeed the knower of the field.
अप्रत्ययममोघं च स्थितावुदकमत्स्यवत्
Unfailing and certain, they remain together like water and fish.
अज्ञा गुणैः प्रवर्त्तन्ते रजःसत्त्वतमो ऽभिधैः
Ignorance operates through the guṇas, known as rajas, sattva, and tamas.
विशेषतां चेन्द्रियतां च याति गुणावसानौषधिभिर्मनुष्यः
Through the culmination of the guṇas and by means of herbs, a person attains distinctness and the state of the senses.
रजः सत्त्वतमोव्यक्ता विधर्माणः परस्परम्
Rajas, sattva, and tamas, though unmanifest, are mutually of different natures.
संसिद्धकार्यकरणा उत्पद्यन्ते ऽभिमानिनः
Those endowed with perfected functions and instruments arise, possessed of self-conceit.