अतीतो वर्तमानेन दृष्टो वैवस्वते न सः
What has passed is not seen in the present Vaivasvata cycle.
तेषां सर्पर्षयः पूर्वमासन्ये तान्निबोधत
Among them, the serpent sages existed formerly; listen to their names.
अत्रिश्चैव वसिष्ठस्च सप्त स्वायंभुवे ऽतरे
Atri and Vasiṣṭha, along with the seven sages of the Svāyambhuva epoch—
ज्योतिष्मान् द्युतिमान्हव्यः सवनः सत्त्र एव च
Jyotiṣmān, Dyutimān, Havya, Savana, and Sattra as well—
वायुवेगा महासत्त्वा राजानः प्रथमेंऽतरे
The swift as wind, the great-souled ones, and the kings of the first epoch—
सपिशाचमनुष्यञ्च ससुपर्णाप्सरोगणम्
Together with Piśācas, humans, Suparṇas, and hosts of Apsarases—
बहुत्वान्नामधेयानां संख्या तेषां कुतः कुले
Because of the multitude of names, how could their number be known in the lineage?
कालेन महतातीता अयनाब्दयुगक्रमैः
A great span of time has passed, through cycles of solstices, years, and ages.
कस्य योनिः किमादिश्च किं सतत्त्वः किमात्मकः
Whose origin, what beginning, what true nature, and of what essence?
किं नामधेयं को ऽस्यात्मा एप्तत्त्वं ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः
What is the name, what is its self, and what is its true principle? Tell me this in truth.
सूर्ययोनिर्निमेषादिः संख्याचक्षुः स उच्यते
The sun is said to be the origin, the measurer of moments, the counter of numbers, and the eye.
संवत्सरः सतत्त्वश्च नाम चास्य कलात्मकः
The year is its true nature, and its name is composed of divisions of time.
पञ्चधा प्रविभक्तां तु कालावस्थां निबोधत
Now understand the fivefold division of the state of time.
संवत्सरस्तु प्रथमो द्वितीयः परिवत्सरः
The year is the first, Parivatsara is the second—
पञ्चमो वत्सरस्तेषां कालःस युगसज्ञितः
The fifth among these is called Vatsara; that time is known as a Yuga.
क्रतुरग्निस्तु यः प्रोक्तः स तु संवत्सरो मतः
The sacrificial fire called Kratu is considered to be the year.
शुक्लकृष्णगतिश्चापि अपां सारमयः खगः
The movement of the bright and dark fortnights, the bird made of the essence of waters—
यश्चायं पवते लोकांस्तनुभिः सप्तसप्तभिः
And he who pervades the worlds with his sevenfold, sevenfold forms—
अहङ्कारादुदग्रुद्रः संभूतो ब्रह्मणास्तु यः
From ego arose the fierce Rudra, who was produced by Brahmā.
सतत्त्वं तस्य वक्ष्यमि कीर्त्यमानं निबोधत
I will now declare to you his true nature as it is praised; listen attentively.
ऋक्सामयजुषां योनिः पञ्चानां पतिरीश्वरः
He is the source of the Ṛg, Sāma, and Yajur Vedas, the lord of the five, the supreme ruler.
प्रोक्तः संवत्सरश्चेति सूर्य चोनिर्मनीषिभिः
He is declared by the sages to be the year, and also the sun.
ग्रहनक्षत्रशीतोष्णवर्षायुः कर्मणां तथा
He governs the planets, stars, cold and heat, rain, lifespan, and actions.
वैकारिकः प्रसन्नात्मा ब्रह्मपुत्रः प्रजापतिः
He is of the mental type, with a serene nature, son of Brahma, and lord of creatures.
आदित्यः सविता भानुर्जीवनो ब्रह्मसत्कृतः
He is Āditya, Savitṛ, Bhānu, the giver of life, honored by Brahma.
ताराभिमानी विज्ञेयो द्वितीयः परिवत्सरः
He is known as the lord of the stars, the second Parivatsara.
आजीवः सर्वभूतानां योगक्षेमकृदीश्वरः
He is the sustainer of all beings, the lord who provides welfare and security.
तिथीनां पर्वसंधीनां पूर्णिमादर्शयोरपि
He is the lord of tithis, festival junctions, and also of the full and new moons.
तस्मात्स पितृमान्सोमः स्मृत इङ्वत्सरात्मकः
Therefore, Soma is remembered as the ancestor, embodying the year.
कर्मभिः प्राणिनां लोके सर्वचेष्टाप्रवर्तकः
Through actions, he initiates all activities of living beings in the world.