अहोरात्रविभागानामहश्चापि प्रकीर्तितम्
Among the divisions of day and night, the day is declared.
क्षणश्चापि निमेषादिः कालः कालविदां वराः
Among moments, the instant and the blink, these are time, O best of those who know time.
भानोर्गतिविशेषेण चक्रवत्परिवर्त्तते
By the special motion of the sun, it revolves like a wheel.
चतुर्विधानां भूतानां प्रवर्त्तकनिवर्त्तकः
It is the initiator and terminator of the four kinds of beings.
इत्येष ज्योतिषामेव संनिवेशोर्ऽथनिश्चयात्
Thus, this arrangement of the luminaries is established by certainty of purpose.
उत्तराश्रवणेनासौ संक्षिप्तश्च ध्रुवे तथा
By the northern Śravaṇa, it is also condensed and fixed in the pole.
बुद्धिबूर्वं भागवता कल्पदौ संप्रवर्त्तितः
Previously, the wise ones, at the beginning of the kalpa, set forth this arrangement.
वैश्वरूपप्रधानस्य परिणामो ऽयमद्भुतः
This is the wondrous transformation of the principal universal form.
गतागतं मनुष्येण ज्योतिषां सांसचक्षुषा
The coming and going of the luminaries is observed by humans with their physical eyes.
परिक्ष्य निपुणं बुद्ध्या श्रद्धातव्यं विपश्चिता
Examined carefully with intelligence, it should be trusted by the wise.
पञ्चैते हेतवो विप्रा ज्योतिर्गणविवेचने
These five are the causes, O Brahmins, in the discernment of the group of luminaries.
ज्जाप जप्यं भगवान्मध्यं प्राप्ते दिवाकरे
The blessed one recited the prayer when the sun reached its zenith.
ते सर्वे नियतात्मानस्तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयस्तथा
All of them, with disciplined minds, stood with hands joined in reverence.
नीलकण्ठ नमस्ते ऽस्तु इत्युवाच सदागतिः
The ever-blessed one spoke, saying: 'Salutations to you, O Nīlakaṇṭha.'
वालखिल्येति विख्याताः पतङ्गसहचारिणः
They are renowned as Vālakhilyas, companions of the birds.
ते स्म पृच्छन्ति वायु च वायुपर्णांबु भोजनाः
They questioned Vāyu, whose sustenance is wind and leaves.
एतद्गुह्यं पवित्राणां पुष्णं पुण्यविदां वरः
This is a secret among the pure, a blessing for those who know virtue.
तत्सर्व श्रोतुमिच्छामस्त्वत्प्रसादात्प्रभञ्जन
We wish to hear all of this, O Prabhañjana, by your grace.
श्रोतुमिच्छामहे देव तव वक्त्राद्विशेषतः
We desire to hear, O Deva, especially from your own mouth.
वर्णस्थानगते वायो वाग्विधिः संप्रवर्त्तते
When Vāyu enters the place of the letters, the function of speech arises.
त्वयि निष्पूयमाने तु शेषा वर्णप्रवृत्तयः
When you are purified, the remaining activities of the letters proceed.
त्वत्तो हि वर्णसद्भावः सर्वगस्त्वं सदानिल
From you comes the existence of the letters; you are ever-present, O universal wind.
एष वै जीवलोकस्ते प्रत्यक्षः सर्वतो ऽनिल
This is indeed your world of living beings, O wind, manifest everywhere and directly perceived.
ब्रूहि तत्कण्ठदेशे तु किं कृत्वा रूपविक्रिया
Tell us, what happened at the region of the throat, causing a change in form?
प्रत्युवाच महातेजा वायुर्ल्लोकनमस्कृतः
Vāyu, of great brilliance, honored by the worlds, replied.
वसिष्ठो नाम धर्मात्मा मानसो वै प्रजापतिः
There is Vasiṣṭha, righteous in spirit, born of the mind, a progenitor.
महिषासुरनारीणां नयनाञ्जनतस्करम्
It was the eye-salve stolen from the women of the buffalo-demon.
उमामनः प्रहर्षाणां बारकच्छद्मरूपिणम्
It was the form of the eyebrow-paste of Umā's joyful mind.
यदेतद्दृश्यते वर्य शुभ्रं शुभ्राञ्जनोपमम्
What you see, O excellent one, is bright, resembling pure white ointment.
एतद्दीप्तांय दान्ताय भक्ताय ब्रूहि पृच्छते
Tell this, O shining, restrained, and devoted one, to the one who asks.