देवतानामृषीणां च सर्वपापप्रमोचनम्
The complete liberation from all sins for gods and sages.
विस्तरेणानुपूर्व्या च तस्य वक्ष्याम्यनुक्रमम्
I shall recount its sequence in detail and proper order.
कथ्यमानां मया चित्रां बह्वर्थां श्रुतिसंमताम्
The wondrous and profound account, approved by the Vedas, is being narrated by me.
स्ववंशं धारणं कृत्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते
By upholding one's own lineage, one is honored in the heavenly world.
कीर्त्यमानं निबोधार्थं पूर्वेषां कीर्त्तिवर्द्धनम्
Understand what is being praised, for it increases the glory of the ancients.
कीर्त्तनं स्थिरकीर्तीनां सर्वेषां पुण्यकर्मणाम्
The praise of all those of steadfast fame and virtuous deeds.
तस्मै हिरण्यगर्भाय पुरुषायेश्वराय च
To that Hiranyagarbha, the Supreme Person and Lord.
ब्रह्मणे लोकतन्त्राय नमस्कृत्य स्वयंभुवे
Having bowed to Brahma, the self-born, the ruler of the worlds.
पञ्चप्रमाणं षद्श्रान्तः पुरुषाधिष्ठितं च यत्
That which is established by five proofs, resting upon six systems, and presided over by the Person.
अव्यक्तं कारणं यत्तन्नित्यं सदसदात्मकम्
That unmanifest cause, eternal, possessing the nature of both being and non-being.
गन्धरूपरसैर्हीनं शब्दस्पर्शविवर्जितम्
Devoid of smell, form, and taste, and free from sound and touch.
विग्रहं सर्वभूतानामव्यक्तमभवत्किल
Indeed, the unmanifest became the form of all beings.
असांप्रतिकमज्ञेयं ब्रह्म यत्सदसत्परम्
That Brahman, which is beyond being and non-being, is unknowable and not accessible to ordinary perception.
गुणसाम्ये तदा तस्मिन्नविभातं तमोमयम्
At that time, when the qualities were in equilibrium, it did not shine forth, being composed of darkness.
गुणभावाद्भासमाने महातत्त्व बभूव ह
When the qualities became manifest, the great principle (mahat) indeed arose.
सत्त्वोद्रेको महानग्रे सत्त्वमात्रप्रकाशकः
With the predominance of sattva at the beginning, it shone forth as pure existence.
निङ्गमात्रं समुत्पन्नं क्षेत्रज्ञाधिष्टितं महत्
Only the unmanifest emerged, the great principle presided over by the knower of the field.
महासृष्टिं च कुरुते वीतमानः सिसृक्षया
Freed from pride, it undertakes the great creation, impelled by the desire to create.
मनो महात्मनि ब्रह्म दुर्बुद्धिख्यातिरीश्वरात्
Mind arises from the great principle, O Brahman, and is known as the difficult-to-comprehend power from the Lord.
मनुते सर्वभूतानां तस्माच्चेष्टफलो विभुः
It perceives all beings; therefore, the all-pervading one is the result of action.
तत्त्वानां संग्रहे यस्मान्महांश्च परिमाणतः
Because it contains the essence of the principles and is great in measure,
विभक्तिमानं मनुते विभागं मन्यते ऽपि वा
It perceives division and also considers separation.
बृहत्त्वाद्वृंहणत्वाच्च भावानामखिलाश्रयात्
Because of its vastness, its capacity to expand, and as the support of all entities,
आपूरयति यस्माच्च सर्वान् देहाननुग्रहैः
And because it fills all bodies with its favors,
तस्मिंस्तु कार्यकरणं संसिद्धं ब्रह्मणः पुरा
In it, the function and instrument of Brahman were formerly established.
स वै शरीरी प्रथमः पुरा पुरुष उच्यते
He, possessing a body, is called the first person (puruṣa) from the beginning.
आदिकर्त्ता स भूतानां ब्रह्माग्रे समवर्त्तिनाम्
He is the original creator of beings, the Brahman who existed first.
सर्गे च प्रतिसर्गे च क्षेत्रज्ञो ब्रह्म संसितः
In creation and dissolution, the knower of the field, Brahman, remains steadfast.
भजन्ते च पुनर्देहांस्ते समाहारसंधिसु
And again, at the conjunctions of cycles, bodies are assumed by them.
गर्तोदकं सबुदास्तु हरेयुश्चापि पञ्चताः
Let the wise know that, like water in a pit, they dissolve into the five elements.