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.
पृथिवी सप्तभिर्द्वीपैः समुद्रैः सह सप्तभिः
The earth with its seven continents, together with the seven oceans,
अन्तःस्थस्य त्विमे लोका अन्तर्विश्वमिदं जगत्
These worlds exist within it; indeed, this entire universe is within.
लोकालोकं च यत् किञ्चिदण्डे तस्मिन्प्रतिष्टितम्
Whatever exists as worlds and non-worlds within the cosmic egg is established therein.
तेजो दशगुणेनैव बाह्यतो वायुना वृतम्
Outside, it is enveloped by wind, and that is covered by fire, tenfold in intensity.
आकाशमावृतं सर्वं बहिर्भूतादिना तथा
All of space is likewise enclosed outside by the element of earth and the others.
एभिरावरणैरण्डं सप्तभिः प्राकृतैर्वृतम्
Thus, the cosmic egg is covered by these seven natural sheaths.
प्रसर्गकाले स्थित्वा च ग्रसंतस्च परस्परम्
At the time of creation, they remain, and then they consume each other in turn.
आधाराधेयभावेन विकारास्ते विकारिषु
These modifications exist in relation of support and supported, among the modified entities.
इत्येवं प्राकृतः सर्गः क्षेत्रज्ञाधिष्ठितस्तु सः
Thus, this is the natural creation, presided over by the knower of the field.
आयुष्मान्कीर्तिमान्धन्यः प्रज्ञावांश्च न संशयः
He is long-lived, renowned, fortunate, and wise—of this there is no doubt.