कथं देवगृहाणि स्युः कथं ज्योतींषिवर्णय
How do the abodes of the gods exist? How are the luminaries described?
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषां तदा सूतः समाहितः
Having heard their words, the Sūta, attentive, replied.
अस्मिन्नर्थे माहाप्राज्ञैर्यदुक्तं ज्ञानबुद्धिभिः
Concerning this matter, what has been spoken by the great sages, endowed with knowledge and wisdom,
यथा देवगृहाणीह सूर्यचन्द्रग्रहाः स्मृताः
As the abodes of the gods here are remembered as the Sun, Moon, and planets,
दिव्यस्य भौतिकस्याग्नेरब्योनेः पार्थि वस्य तु
Of the divine, material, fire, atmospheric, and earthly,
अव्याकृतमिदं त्वासीन्नैशेन तमसावृतम्
This was unmanifest, covered by the darkness of night.
स्वयंभूर्भगवांस्तत्र लोकतन्त्रार्थसाधकः
There, the self-born Lord, accomplishing the purpose of the world order,
सो ऽग्निं दृष्ट्वाथ लोकादौ पृथिवीजलसंश्रितम्
He, seeing fire at the beginning of the world, situated in earth and water,
पवनो यस्तु लोके ऽस्मिन्पार्थिवः सो ऽग्निरुच्यते
The wind that exists in this world, O King, is said to be fire.
वैद्युतो ऽब्जस्तु विज्ञेयस्तेषां वक्ष्ये ऽथ लक्षमम्
The electric and aquatic (forms) should be understood; now I shall describe their characteristics.
तस्मादपः पिबन्सूर्यो गोभिर्दीप्यत्यसौ दिवि
Therefore, the sun drinks up the waters and shines in the sky with rays.
मानवा नां च कुक्षिस्थो नाद्भिः शास्यति पावकः
The fire that dwells in the stomachs of men is sustained by water.
किञ्चिदप्सु मतं तेजः किञ्चिद्दृष्टमबिं धनम्
Some brilliance is considered to be in the waters, and some is seen in the clouds.
अर्चिष्मान्पवमानो ऽग्निर्निष्प्रभो जाठरः स्मृतः
The wind-blown fire is radiant, while the fire in the stomach is said to be without luster.
प्रभा सौरी तु पादेन ह्यस्तं याति देवाकरे
The solar radiance, with its foot, goes to set in the abode of the gods.
उद्यन्तं च पुनः सूर्यमौष्णमयमाग्नेयमाविशत्
And again, when the sun rises, the fiery heat enters it.
प्राकाश्यं च तथौष्ण्यं च सौराग्नेये तु तेजसी
Brightness and heat are the energies of the sun and fire.
उत्तरे चैव भूम्यर्द्धे तथा ह्यग्निश्च दक्षिणे
In the northern half of the earth is the sun, and likewise, fire is in the southern.
तस्मात्तप्ता भवन्त्यापो दिवारत्रिप्रवेशनात्
Therefore, the waters become heated by the entry of day and night.
तस्मान्नक्तं पुनः शुक्ला आपो ऽदृश्यन्त भास्वराः
Therefore, at night, the waters again appear bright and shining.
उदयास्तमने नित्यमहोरात्रं विशत्यपः
At sunrise and sunset, the waters always enter day and night.
पार्थिवाग्निविमिश्रो ऽसौ दिव्यः शुचिरिति स्मृतः
That which is mixed with earthly and fiery elements is called the pure celestial (fire).
आदत्ते स तु नाडीनां सहस्रेण समन्ततः
It takes up (water) through a thousand channels all around.
स्थावरा जङ्गमाश्चैव याश्च कुल्यादिका अपः
Both stationary and moving beings, and the waters such as those from streams and the like,
तासां चतुःशता नाड्यो वर्षन्ते चित्र मूर्त्तयः
Of these, four hundred channels pour forth in various forms.
अमृता नामतः सर्वा रश्मयो वृष्टिसर्जनाः
All their rays, called 'nectar,' are the causes of rain.
दृश्या मेघाश्च याम्यश्च ह्रदिन्यो हिमसर्जनाः
There are visible clouds, southern ones, lakes, and icy formations.
शुक्लाश्च कुहकाश्चैव गावो विश्वभृतस्तथा
There are also white and illusory ones, as well as cows, and the supporter of all.
समं विभज्य नाडीस्तु मनुष्टपितृदेवताः
He divides the channels equally among humans, ancestors, and gods.
अमृतेन सुरान्सर्वांस्त्रींस्त्रिभिस्तर्पयत्यसौ
With nectar, he satisfies all the gods in three ways.