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.
प्राक्सृतौ ये त्वसुवहाः साधकाश्चाप्यसाधकाः
Those who, before creation, were bearers of life, both capable and incapable,
कार्याणि प्रतिपत्स्यन्ते उत्पत्स्यन्ते पुनः पुनः
Will undertake actions and will be born again and again.
आरप्संते हि चान्योन्यं वरेणानुग्रहेण वा
Indeed, they approach each other either by choice or by favor.
गुणास्तं प्रतिधीयन्ते तस्मात्तत्तस्य रोचते
Qualities are attributed to that; therefore, it is pleasing to that one.
तान्येव प्रतिपद्यन्ते सृज्यमानाः पुनः पुनः
Those very ones are assumed again and again as beings are created.
तद्भाविताः प्रपद्यन्ते तस्मात्तत्तस्य रोचते
Absorbed in that, they attain it; therefore, it is pleasing to that one.
विप्रयोगश्च भूतानां गुणेभ्यः संप्रवर्त्तते
Separation of beings arises from the qualities.
समासादेव वक्ष्यामि ब्रह्मणो ऽथ समुद्भवम्
Now, I shall briefly declare the origin of Brahman.
प्रधानपुरुषाभ्यां तु जायते च महेश्वरः
Indeed, from Pradhāna and Puruṣa, Maheśvara is born.
सृजते स पुनर्लोकानभिमान गुणात्मकान्
He then creates the worlds, endowed with qualities and identification.